Enteric peripheral neuroblastoma in a calf

An 11-month-old female Japanese Black calf had showed chronic intestinal symptoms. A large mass surrounding the colon wall that was continuous with the colon submucosa was surgically removed. After recurrence and euthanasia, a large mass in the colon region and metastatic masses in the omentum, liver, and lung were revealed at necropsy. Pleomorphic small cells proliferated in the mass and muscular layer of the colon. The cells were positively stained with anti-doublecortin (DCX), PGP9.5, nestin, and neuron specific enolase (NSE). Thus, the diagnosis of peripheral neuroblastoma was made. This is the first report of enteric peripheral neuroblastoma in animals. Also, clear DCX staining signal suggested usefulness of DCX immunohistochemistry to differentiate the neuroblastoma from other small cell tumors in cattle.