Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma in a Himalayan Rex Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)

Lisa Allnoch; Saskia Köstlinger; Nicole Steffensen; Marion Hewicker-Trautwein; Annika Lehmbecker

doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.09.010

Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma in a Himalayan Rex Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus)

J Comp Pathol. 2020 Nov:181:13-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.09.010. Epub 2020 Oct 23.

Authors

Lisa Allnoch¹, Saskia Köstlinger², Nicole Steffensen³, Marion Hewicker-Trautwein⁴, Annika Lehmbecker¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
² Clinic for Small Home Animals, Reptiles and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
³ Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
⁴ Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: Marion.Hewicker-Trautwein@tiho-hannover.de.

PMID: 33288145
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2020.09.010

Abstract

A Himalayan Rex guinea pig was presented with a history of nodular, partially ulcerated masses in the subcutis of the left shoulder. Histological examination revealed a garland-like to nodular, infiltrative neoplastic mass of the epidermis and hair follicle epithelium, which obscured the dermoepidermal junction. Neoplastic cells were immunopositive for S100, PNL-2, vimentin and melan-A antigens. No immunolabelling of CD3, CD79, Iba-1 or pancytokeratin was observed. This is the first detailed description of spontaneous amelanotic malignant melanoma in this species.

Keywords: PNL-2; amelanotic melanoma; guinea pig; melan-A.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Animals
Guinea Pigs*
Melanoma, Amelanotic* / veterinary
Skin Neoplasms* / veterinary