Pleomorphic liposarcoma of the intrathoracic cavity in a meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

J Vet Med Sci. 2009 May;71(5):685-8. doi: 10.1292/jvms.71.685.

Abstract

Postmortem examination of a meerkat which had been captive for eight years in zoo, revealed multinodular white masses filling the thoracic cavity with systemic metastasis. Microscopically, the neoplastic cells were polygonal to spindle-shaped and had eosinophilic cytoplasm often with variable numbers of small lipid droplets. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were intensely positive for vimentin and occasionally weakly positive for S-100. Ultrastructurally, several lipid droplets without limiting membranes were observed in the cytoplasm. Based on the findings above, the tumor was diagnosed as a pleomorphic liposarcoma arising from the thoracic cavity. To date, neoplasms have seldom been reported in Herpestidae animals. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of liposarcoma in a meerkat.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Herpestidae*
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Liposarcoma / pathology
  • Liposarcoma / veterinary*
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / veterinary*