Lab Anim Res.  2011 Mar;27(1):53-57.

Chordoma in the Tail of a Ferret

• Cho ES
• Kim JY
• Ryu SY
• Jung JY
• Park BK
• Son HY

Abstract

A chordoma is an uncommon tumor that originates from the remnants of the notochord and most commonly involves the cranial and caudal regions of the axial skeleton. Chordoma has been described in laboratory animals such as dogs, rats, minks, and ferrets. This report describes a case of a chordoma in the tail of a ferret. Grossly, a grayish-white, expansile, subcutaneous soft-tissue mass was observed in the tail. Histopathologically, the mass was a loosely placed, nodular, unencapsulated neoplasm within the dermis. In the mass, tumor lobules were intermingled with fibrous tissues. Fibrous tissues contained abundant extracellular basophilic material that was consistent with mucin. The tumor was composed of a close pack of adipocyte-like vacuolated cells (physaliferous cells). The cells were centrally or eccentrically located round nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm with large vacuoles. Immunohistologically, neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and S-100 protein. Based on histopathologic findings and special staining characteristics, this case was diagnosed as chordoma.

Keyword

Chordoma; ferret; physaliferous cells; pathology

MeSH Terms

Animals
Animals, Laboratory
Basophils
Chordoma
Cytoplasm
Dermis
Dogs
Eosinophils
Ferrets
Mink
Mucins
Notochord
Rats
S100 Proteins
Skeleton
Tail
Vacuoles
Vimentin
Mucins
S100 Proteins
Vimentin

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Gross appearance of the mass in the tail of a three-year-old female ferret. Bar=5 mm. (A) Grossly, an expansile, well-defined solitary mass is located at the end of the tail. (B) Cross-section across the middle of the fixed mass showing an infiltrative pattern with an irregular border. Bar=10 cm.

• 

  Figure 2 Histopathological lesions of the tumor. (A) Most of the subcutaneous tissues and trabecular bone (T) with marrow is destroyed and replaced by tumor cells. H-E stain, Bar=500 µm. (B) The tumor cells grow into the bone marrow cavity with substantial changes of trabecular bone. H-E stain, Bar=500 µm. (C) Tumor cells are arranged within poorly defined lobules. Within the lobules, pleomorphic cells contain large vacuoles and small dark, centrally located nuclei (physaliferous cells). Also an interlobular amorphous matrix is visible. H-E stain, Bar=500 µm. (D) Between the lobules matrix containing mucin is highlighted with toluidine blue staining. Bar=100 µm. (E) Physaliferous cells contain large clear cytoplasmic vacuoles and small dark nuclei are visible. H-E stain, Bar=50 µm. F) Sudan III staining was negative for lipid. Bar=100 µm.

• 

  Figure 3 Photographs of the tumor with immunohistochemical stains. (A) Immunohistochemistry for vimentin shows diffuse positive reactions. (B) Immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein shows diffuse positive reactions. ABC method, Bar=100 µm.

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