Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in equids.
Abstract: Eleven gastrointestinal neoplasms from 10 aged horses and 1 pony were examined grossly, his tologically, immunohistochemically, and (in two cases) ultrastructurally. Clinical signs were associated with two neoplasms, and the other nine tumors were incidental findings at laparotomy or necropsy. The neoplasms were solitary (9/11) or multifocal (2/11), well demarcated, serosal or mural masses of stomach (1), jejunum (1), ileum (3), cecum (5), and/or colon (2). Microscopic examination revealed discrete spindle cells arranged in compact patterns with fascicles and whorls or cribriform pattern with fascicles and rare palisades, often with a myxoid interstitial matrix. Three tumors infiltrated between the muscularis interna and the muscularis externa at the myenteric plexi. All neoplasms were vimentin positive, 3/11 were S-100 positive, 2/11 were muscle actin positive, and no neoplasm was positive for glial fibrillary acid protein, desmin, factor VIII, chromogranin, or neuron-specific enolase. Of the two tumors studied ultrastructurally, one contained an admixture of smooth muscle cells and cells resembling Schwann cells, and the second was populated by homogeneous fusiform mesenchymal cells separated by homogeneous matrix. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have been recognized in humans, more recently in dogs and nonhuman primates, and now in equids. Most of these tumors are comprised of a loosely arranged network of spindled cells separated by myxoid matrix. GIST may be composed of myogenic, neurogenic, combined myogenic and neurogenic, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells.
Publication Date: 2001-12-06 PubMed ID: 11732803DOI: 10.1354/vp.38-6-689Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research is about gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in horses and ponies, with detailed examination of 11 such tumors from 10 aged horses and a pony. The study examined the presence, location, structure, and cellular composition of these tumors.
Research Methodology
- The researchers examined 11 gastrointestinal neoplasms found in aged horses (10) and a pony (1).
- These tumors were assessed through gross examination, histology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructure examination in two cases.
- Of these tumors, two were found to be associated with clinical signs while the other nine were detected incidental to laparotomy or necropsy.
Findings
- Most of the tumors were solitary (9 out of 11) and well demarcated. They were found as serosal or mural masses in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach (1), jejunum (1), ileum (3), cecum (5), and colon (2).
- Microscopic examination revealed these cells to be discrete, spindle-shaped, and arranged in compact patterns with fascicles and whorls, often with a myxoid interstitial matrix.
- Three tumors were found to have infiltrated between the innermost and outermost muscle layers at the myenteric plexi.
- All tumors were positive for vimentin, a protein associated with mesenchymal cells. A fraction were also positive for S-100 (3/11) and muscle actin (2/11), proteins linked to nerve and muscle cells respectively.
- None of the examined tumors were positive for glial fibrillary acid protein, desmin, factor VIII, chromogranin, or neuron-specific enolase; proteins associated with glial cells, smooth muscle cells, blood clotting, neuroendocrine cells, and neurons respectively.
- Ultrastructure examination of two tumors showed one consisted of smooth muscle cells and cells resembling Schwann cells, while the second was populated by homogeneous fusiform mesenchymal cells.
Conclusion
- The discovery and characterization of GISTs in horses and ponies expands our understanding of these tumors beyond our existing knowledge from humans, dogs, and nonhuman primates.
- Most of these tumors are composed of a loosely arranged network of spindle-like cells separated by a myxoid matrix.
- GISTs may be composed of myogenic, neurogenic, combined myogenic and neurogenic, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, highlighting their complexity and heterogeneity.
Cite This Article
APA
Del Piero F, Summers BA, Cummings JF, Mandelli G, Blomme EA.
(2001).
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in equids.
Vet Pathol, 38(6), 689-697.
https://doi.org/10.1354/vp.38-6-689 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square 19348-1692, USA. fdp@vet.upenn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
- Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / ultrastructure
- Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- Stromal Cells / pathology
- Stromal Cells / ultrastructure
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Pesato ME, Boyle AG, Fecteau ME, Hamberg A, Smith BI. Gastrointestinal spindle cell tumor of the rumen with metastasis to the liver in a goat. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 May;30(3):451-454.
- Malberg JA, Webb BT, Hackett ES. Colonic gastrointestinal stromal tumor resulting in recurrent colic and hematochezia in a warmblood gelding. Can Vet J 2014 May;55(5):471-4.
- Inoue K, Yoshida M, Takahashi M, Cho YM, Takami S, Nishikawa A. Rhabdomyosarcoma in the abdominal cavity of a 12-month-old female donryu rat. J Toxicol Pathol 2009 Sep;22(3):195-8.
- Gregory-Bryson E, Bartlett E, Kiupel M, Hayes S, Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan V. Canine and human gastrointestinal stromal tumors display similar mutations in c-KIT exon 11. BMC Cancer 2010 Oct 15;10:559.
- Bommineni YR, Dick EJ Jr, Hubbard GB. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a baboon, a spider monkey, and a chimpanzee and a review of the literature. J Med Primatol 2009 Jun;38(3):199-203.
- Haga HA, Ytrehus B, Rudshaug IJ, Ottesen N. Gastrointestinal stromal tumour and hypoglycemia in a Fjord pony: case report. Acta Vet Scand 2008 May 16;50(1):9.
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