Page 21 - ACV Journal DECEMBER 2015

Scientific

CASE REPORT:
FIBROSARCOMA OF THE MAXILLA OF A CALF

Tristan Reid, BVSc (Hons), The Vet Group, Timboon

Case Description: References:

A 14 week old crossbred dairy heifer calf was presented with a 5 day history 1. Braun U, Nehrbass D, Heusmann B, Landerer C, Flückiger M. Fibrosarcoma of the
of dysphagia, drooling saliva and weight loss. On examination the owners had pars incisiva of the mandible of a cow. The Veterinary Record 2001;148:787-788.
noticed a swelling on the left side on the face and a mass in the mouth. The
calf had been weaned onto pasture one month ago. There was no indication 2. Britt LG, Middleton JR, Valdez RA et al. Facial fibrosarcoma in two cows. Veterinary
of disease prior to 5 days ago, however the owners could not rule out that the Radiology & Ultrasound: The Official Journal Of The American College Of Veterinary
mass had been present since birth. Radiology And The International Veterinary Radiology Association 1998;39:18-21.

On examination the calf was bright, ambulatory and was mildly dehydrated 3. Diglio CA, Hare WC, Dodd DC, Marshak RR, Ferrer JF. Cytogenetic, cytological, and
and had saliva drooling from its open mouth. Oral examination revealed virological characteristics of a bovine fibrosarcoma. Cancer Research 1975;35:3628-
a large 8cm, firm, pink, fleshy, non-ulcerated mass filling the caudodorsal 3635.
oral cavity, closely associated with the hard palate and the left maxillary
molar teeth. There was poor exfoliation of cells on fine needle aspirate. 4. Gardner DG. Ameloblastic fibromas and related tumors in cattle. Journal of Oral
The mass was visualised displacing the first maxillary molar, which was Pathology & Medicine 1996;25:119-124.
palpably loose. No halitosis or purulent discharge or exudate was noted.
The calf was not pyrexic. 5. Misdorp W. Regular Article: Tumours in Calves: Comparative Aspects. Journal of
Comparative Pathology 2002;127:96-105.
Complete surgical excision was considered impossible. Following an
unsuccessful trial treatment of meloxicam and 5 days of amoxicillin 10mg/kg 6. Misdorp W. Congenital tumours and tumour‐like lesions in domestic animals. 1. Cattle
BID, the calf was euthanized on humane grounds. Post mortem examination A review. Veterinary Quarterly 2002;24:1.
revealed the extent of the mass lesion, which extended caudally into the
oropharynx and almost completely obliterated the caudal oral cavity. The mass 7. Orr JP. Fibrosarcoma affecting the mammary gland of a cow. Canadian Journal
was grossly divided into a rostral and caudal lobe, was extensively displacing Of Comparative Medicine: Revue Canadienne De Médecine Comparée
the entire left row of maxillary molar teeth and appeared to be infiltrating 1984;48:219-222.
the left maxilla. The contralateral molars had begun to penetrate the mass,
resulting in small focal areas of infection. 8. Sartin EA, Weiss RC, Baird AN et al. Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in a bull. Journal Of
Comparative Pathology 1998;118:51-55.
No other abnormalities were detected on gross necropsy examination of
the other body organs including lung, liver, GIT, renal, heart and lymph
nodes.

Samples of the mass were collected and submitted to the Veterinary
Diagnostics Laboratory at CSU Wagga Wagga for histopathology.
The histopathology report described the mass as ‘moderately well
vascularised and composed of a neoplastic proliferation of moderately
well differentiated spindle cells with sometimes stellate morphology and
producing a moderate amount of extracellular eosinophilic fibrillar matrix
material consistent with collagen’.

A diagnosis of fibrosarcoma was made.

Discussion:

A short review of the current literature revealed tumours in calves are rare. Due
to the young age of presentation, it is likely that the neoplasm was congenital
and had not been noticed earlier as it had not interfered with feeding. The
most commonly reported congenital tumours are multicentric malignant
lymphomas, embryonic tumours such as angiomas and nephroblastomas,
angiomas, melanomas and mesotheliomas. Mast cell tumours and
haemangiosarcomas are also reported. Fibrosarcomas are recognised but
rarely reported in calves – a 2002 review by Misdorp found only one reported
case in a newborn Jersey calf in India. Other reports of fibrosarcoma in cattle
have occurred in mature animals, affecting the mandible, mammary gland and
brisket. Oral fibrosarcomas affecting the mandible in mature animals have
been observed to be locally invasive resulting in osteolysis of the surrounding
bone. Ameloblastic fibromas affecting the rostral mandible of young animals
are more widely reported.

This case is a reminder that neoplasia does occur in calves and should be
considered a differential diagnosis in cases of mass lesions.

I would like to acknowledge the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga and CSU veterinary student Meg
Parsons for their involvement in this case. Further thanks are extended to
the owners and the management at The Vet Group.

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