A 43 yr-old female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) collapsed acutely and died. Necropsy revealed an enlarged right adrenal medulla. Histologic appearance was typical of pheochromocytoma. Special stains and electron microscopy demonstrated chromaffin granules, suggesting that the tumor was derived from catecholamine secreting cells of the adrenal medulla, and may have been functionally secretory. Serum levels of both norepinephrine and epinephrine were elevated at time of death, supporting the functional nature of the tumor. Histologic findings of arteriolar sclerosis and smooth muscle hyperplasia suggested that the animal may have suffered from chronic systemic hypertension. Pheochromocytoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of suspected hypertension and acute death in elephants.
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1 December 2005
PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA IN AN AGED FEMALE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA AFRICANA)
Christopher J. Bonar,
Albert H. Lewandowski,
Baha Arafah,
Charles C. Capen
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 36 • No. 4
December 2005
Vol. 36 • No. 4
December 2005
elephant
Loxodonta africana
neoplasia
pathology
pheochromocytoma