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Ameloblastic carcinoma in horses: case report and literature review.

Abstract: Ameloblastic carcinoma is a malignant odontogenic neoplasm that has been reported only rarely in veterinary species. A 16-y-old Arabian crossbred mare was presented for evaluation of a hard mass on the body of the mandible, with evidence of osteolysis on radiographs. Incisional biopsies revealed an invasive neoplasm comprised of spindloid epithelial cells with a high mitotic count and partial dual cytokeratin-vimentin immunoreactivity. The horse was euthanized because of rapid tumor progression 3 mo after presentation. Postmortem evaluation revealed partial obliteration of the mandible by a large, firm-to-hard, tan, locally destructive and invasive mass with no gross or histologic evidence of metastasis. Postmortem histology revealed a poorly differentiated epithelial neoplasm with variably prominent features suggestive of odontogenic histogenesis: a plexiform ribbon architecture, infrequent basilar palisading with antibasilar nuclei, rare basilar cytoplasmic clearing, subepithelial matrix hyalinization, and partial dual cytokeratin-vimentin immunoreactivity. Features of malignancy included regions of necrosis, pronounced cellular atypia, a high mitotic count, extensive tissue invasion and local tissue destruction, and extension of neoplastic cells beyond the margins of the mandibular bone. Collectively, these features are most consistent with mandibular ameloblastic carcinoma. Including our case described here, ameloblastic carcinoma has been reported in only 5 horses. The microscopic features reported most consistently are dual cytokeratin-vimentin immunoreactivity, a high mitotic count, and basilar palisading. Ameloblastic carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for rapidly growing, locally invasive masses arising from the dentate jaw of horses.
Publication Date: 2022-01-17 PubMed ID: 35037545PubMed Central: PMC9254059DOI: 10.1177/10406387211068459Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The paper presents an unusual case of ameloblastic carcinoma, a rare malignant oral tumor, in a 16-year-old horse. After a detailed examination and postmortem analysis, the tumor’s characteristics were found to be consistent with mandibular ameloblastic carcinoma, emphasizing the need to consider this diagnosis for similar rapidly growing, invasive oral masses in horses.

Case Presentation and Diagnosis

  • The subject of the study was a 16-year-old Arabian crossbred mare who was investigated due to a hard mass on the mandible, an area showing signs of osteolysis on the radiographs.
  • Initial biopsies showed a rapidly growing and invasive tumor made up of epithelial cells that were undergoing mitosis at a high rate. They were partially responding to both cytokeratin and vimentin—a characteristic known as dual cytokeratin-vimentin immunoreactivity.
  • The mare was euthanized due to the swift tumor progression three months after initially being presented.

Postmortem Evaluation and Histology

  • A postmortem investigation showed that a large, tan colored, firm but destructive and invasive mass had partially obliterated the mandible. There was however no evidence of metastasis either visually or under the microscope.
  • Further histological studies found a poorly differentiated epithelial tumor with some features typical of odontogenic histogenesis, such as a plexiform ribbon architecture, infrequent basilar palisading with anti-basilar nuclei, rare basilar cytoplasmic clearing, and subepithelial matrix hyalinization.
  • Malignant attributes found included necrotic regions, significant cellular atypia, high mitotic count, extensive tissue invasion and local tissue destruction, and the presence of abnormal cells beyond the mandible margins.

Historical Context and Conclusions

  • The paper reminds us that ameloblastic carcinoma has only been reported in a handful of horses, including the current one.
  • The microscopic features seen most commonly in these horses are dual cytokeratin-vimentin immunoreactivity, a high mitotic count, and basilar palisading.
  • The study concludes that ameloblastic carcinoma should be taken into consideration when making a differential diagnosis for fast-growing, locally invasive masses emerging from the oral jaw of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Schreeg ME, Radkin M, Haugland J, Murphy BG, Rushton S, Linder KE. (2022). Ameloblastic carcinoma in horses: case report and literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest, 34(3), 528-534. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211068459

Publication

ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 3
Pages: 528-534

Researcher Affiliations

Schreeg, Megan E
  • North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Radkin, Megan
    Haugland, Jennifer
      Murphy, Brian G
        Rushton, Steve
          Linder, Keith E

            MeSH Terms

            • Ameloblastoma / diagnosis
            • Ameloblastoma / pathology
            • Ameloblastoma / veterinary
            • Animals
            • Carcinoma / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
            • Horse Diseases / pathology
            • Horses
            • Keratins
            • Mandibular Neoplasms / diagnosis
            • Mandibular Neoplasms / pathology
            • Mandibular Neoplasms / veterinary
            • Odontogenic Tumors / diagnostic imaging
            • Odontogenic Tumors / veterinary
            • Vimentin

            Conflict of Interest Statement

            The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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