MASTOCYTOMA IN CATTLE

A mastocytoma is an accumulation or nodule of mast cells

that resembles a tumor, or more commonly in many animals this
collection of mast cells is actually a mast cell tumor. A mast cell
originates from the bone marrow and is normally found throughout
the connective tissue of the body. It is a normal component of the
immune system and as it releases histamine it is associated with
allergic reactions. Mast cells also respond to tissue trauma. Mast
cell granules contain histamine, heparin, platelet-activating factor,
and other substances. Disseminated mastocytosis is rarely seen in
dogs and cats, while mast cell tumors are a common malignant
tumor of the skin in older dogs and cats. Up to 20 to 25 percent of
skin tumors in dogs are mast cell tumors, with a similar number in
cats.
Mast cell tumor on the side of a dog
Mast cell tumor on the inner thigh of a dog
Mast cell tumor of the paw
Contents;
• Commonly affected breeds
• Signs
• Diagnosis
• Treatment and prognosis
• Mast cell tumors in cats
• Mast cell tumors in other animals
• References

Commonly affected breeds;

• Boxer
• Bulldog
• Basset Hound
• Weimaraner
• Boston Terrier
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Beagle
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• Scottish Terrier
• Pug
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
Signs;
Mast cell tumors are known amongst veterinary oncologists
as 'the great pretenders' because their appearance can be varied,
from a wart-like nodule to a soft subcutaneous lump (similar on
palpation to a benign lipoma) to an ulcerated skin mass. All lumps
should be checked by fine needle aspiration: palpation or visual
inspection is never adequate. Most mast cell tumors are small,
raised lumps on the skin. They may be hairless, ulcerated, or itchy.
They are usually solitary, but in about 6 percent of cases there are
multiple mast cell tumors (especially in Boxers and Pugs).
Manipulation of the tumor may result in redness and
swelling from release of mast cell granules, also known as Darier's
sign, and prolonged local hemorrhage. In rare cases a highly
malignant tumor is present, and signs may include loss of appetite,
vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia. The presence of these signs
usually indicates mastocytosis, which is the spread of mast cells
throughout the body. Release of a large amount of histamine at one
time can result in ulceration of the stomach and duodenum (present
in up to 25 percent of cases), or disseminated intravascular
coagulation. When metastasis does occur, it is usually to the liver,
spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow.

Diagnosis;
A needle aspiration biopsy of the tumor will show a large
number of mast cells. This is sufficient to make the diagnosis of a
mast cell tumor. The granules of the mast cell stain blue to dark
purple with a Romanowsky stain, and the cells are medium sized.
However, a surgical biopsy is required to find the grade of the
tumor. The grade depends on how well the mast cells are
differentiated, from grade I to grade III.
 • Grade I - well differentiated and mature cells with a low
potential for metastasis
• Grade II - intermediately differentiated cells with potential
for local invasion and moderate metastatic behavior
• Grade III - undifferentiated, immature cells with a high
potential for metastasis
However, there is a significant amount of discordance between
veterinary pathologists in assigning grades to mast cell tumors due
to imprecise criteria.
The disease is also staged.
• Stage I - a single skin tumor with no spread to lymph nodes
• Stage II - a single skin tumor with spread to lymph nodes in
the surrounding area
• Stage III - multiple skin tumors or a large tumor invading
deep to the skin with or without lymph node involvement
• Stage IV - a tumor with metastasis to the spleen, liver, bone
marrow, or with the presence of mast cells in the blood
X-rays, ultrasound, or lymph node, bone marrow, or organ biopsies
may be necessary to stage the disease.

Mast cell tumor cytology;

Treatment and prognosis;
Removal of the mast cell tumor through surgery is the
treatment of choice. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are
given prior to surgery to protect against the effects of histamine
released from the tumor. Wide margins (two to three centimeters)
are required because of the tendency for the tumor cells to be
spread out around the tumor. If complete removal is not possible
due to the size or location, additional treatment such as radiation
therapy or chemotherapy may be necessary. Prednisone is often
used to shrink the remaining tumor portion. H2 blockers such as
cimetidine protect against stomach damage from histamine.
Vinblastine and CCNU are common chemotherapy agents used to
treat mast cell tumors
Mast cell tumors that are grade I or II that can be completely
removed have a good prognosis. One study showed that about 23
percent of incompletely removed grade II tumors recurred
locally.[8] Any mast cell tumor found in the gastrointestinal tract,
paw, or on the muzzle has a guarded prognosis. Previous beliefs
that tumors in the groin or perineum carried a worse prognosis
have been discounted.[9] Tumors that have spread to the lymph
nodes or other parts of the body have a poor prognosis. Any dog
showing symptoms of mastocytosis or with a grade III tumor has a
poor prognosis. Boxers have a better than average prognosis
because of the relatively benign behavior of their mast cell tumors.
Multiple tumors that are treated similarly to solitary tumors do not
seem to have a worse prognosis.
Mast cell tumors do not necessarily follow the histological
prognosis. Further prognostic information can be provided by
AgNOR stain of histological or cytological specimen. Even then
there is a risk of unpredictable behaviour

Congenital mastocytomas in a Holstein calf;

Congenital defects occur infrequently in cattle. In this report,
a stillborn Holstein calf was presented for unusual nodules in the
skin. Necropsy and histopathologic findings aided in the diagnosis
of systemic mastocytoma, or mast cell tumor. The diagnosis of
congenital mastocytoma in this case is extremely rare and unique.

Mastocytoma was diagnosed in a four year old Holstein cow.

The enlarging mass was clinically determined to be metastatic to
the right superficial cervical lymph node. Cytological examination
of both sites revealed mast cell neoplasia. Histopathological
examination confirmed the presence of this tumor in these same
sites as well as in liver, kidney and adrenal. Ultrastructurally, the
mass contained round cells with electron dense granules in the
cytoplasm.

Mastocytoma cells in vitro suppressed the immune response

of normal syngeneic spleen cells to sheep erythrocytes. The
immune response of dispersed spleen cells from normal mice in
vitro was inhibited by simultaneous incubation with relatively
small numbers of mastocytoma cells or a cell-free extract prepared
from these cells. Inhibition occurred when diluted cell-free extracts
from the mastocytoma cells or as few as 10-4 or 10-5 tumor cells
were incubated with 5 million normal splenocytes. The supernatant
factor from mastocytoma cells was labile to heating at 56 degrees
for 30 min. Detailed examination of the physicochemical
properties of the mastocytoma cell extract capable of suppressing
immune responses to sheep red cells should be of value.

Mast cell tumors in cats;

Two types of mast cell tumors have been identified in cats, a
mast cell type similar to dogs and a histiocytic type that appear as
subcutaneous nodules and may resolve spontaneously. Young
Siamese cats are at an increased risk for the histiocytic type,
although the mast cell type is the most common in all cats and is
considered to be benign when confined to the skin.
Mast cell tumors of the skin are usually located on the head
or trunk. Gastrointestinal and splenic involvement is more
common in cats than in dogs; 50 percent of cases in cats primarily
involved the spleen or intestines. Gastrointestinal mast cell tumors
are most commonly found in the muscularis layer of the small
intestine but can also be found in the large intestine. It is the third
most common intestinal tumor in cats, after lymphoma and
adenocarcinoma.
Diagnosis and treatment are similar to that of the dog. Cases
involving difficult to remove or multiple tumors have responded
well to strontium-90 radiotherapy as an alternative to surgery. The
prognosis for solitary skin tumors is good, but guarded for tumors
in other organs. Histological grading of tumors has little bearing on
prognosis.

Mast cell tumors in other animals;

Mast cell tumors are an uncommon occurrence in horses.
They usually occur as benign, solitary masses on the skin of the
head, neck, trunks, and legs. Mineralization of the tumor is
common. In pigs and cattle mast cell tumors are rare. They tend to
be solitary and benign in pigs and multiple and malignant in cattle.
Mast cell tumors are found in the skin of cattle most commonly,
but these may be metastases from tumors of the viscera. Other sites
in cattle include the spleen, muscle, gastrointestinal tract,
omentum, and uterus.

References;
1' Brière C (2002). "Use of a reverse saphenous skin flap for the
excision of a grade II mast cell tumor on the hind limb of a
dog". .
2.Johnson T, Schulman F, Lipscomb T, Yantis L (2002).
"Histopathology and biologic behavior of pleomorphic
cutaneous mast cell tumors in fifteen cats".
3. Morrison, Wallace B. (1998). Cancer in Dogs and Cats (1st
ed.). Williams and Wilkins.
4. "Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors". The Merck Veterinary Manual.
2006.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/722
31.htm.