A 3-yr-old African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was submitted with dysphagia, weight loss, and tetraparesis. A palpable mass was found on the ventral neck. Histologic examination revealed replacement of the thyroid gland by a highly cellular, expansile, and infiltrative mass composed of lobules of polygonal cells separated by fine fibrovascular septa. Examination of ultrathin sections revealed tumor cells with few to many dense-core neuroendocrine granules, approximately 100–200 nm in diameter, and stromal amyloid. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for neuron-specific enolase. Only rare cells had positive immunohistochemical staining for calcitonin. Findings are consistent with a neuroendocrine tumor of C-cell origin. This is the first report of a C-cell carcinoma in a hedgehog.
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1 December 2002
THYROID C-CELL CARCINOMA IN AN AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOG (ATELERIX ALBIVENTRIS)
Debra L. Miller,
Eloise L. Styer,
Janeen K. Stobaeus,
Terry M. Norton
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 33 • No. 4
December 2002
Vol. 33 • No. 4
December 2002
Atelerix albiventris
C-cell carcinoma
hedgehog
immunohistochemistry
neoplasia
ultrastructure