Three cases of suspected mammary neoplasia in non-human primates

• Published in: Journal of comparative pathology Vol. 84; no. 3; pp. 351 - 364
• Main Authors: Appleby, E.C., Keymer, I.F., Hime, J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1974
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - veterinary; Animals; Female; Haplorhini; Mammary Glands, Animal - pathology; Monkey Diseases - pathology; Neoplasms - veterinary; Primates; Sarcoma - pathology; Sarcoma - veterinary
• ISSN: 0021-9975; 1532-3129
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9975(74)90009-7

Three cases of malignant neoplasia of the mammary region, two in Galago crassicaudatus and one in Mandrillus sphinx, are described and the histopathology illustrated. The origin in each case appeared to be the mammary gland and all three had metastasized to other tissues. It is suggested that in the first two cases the malignant component is myoepithelial and in the third, glandular epithelium. Attention is drawn to the rarity of reports of neoplasia of the mammary region in non-human primates. A total of 13 published cases, including the three described, are tabulated and briefly reviewed. With one exception, there appears to be no essential histological difference between these and various types of human breast cancer. In view of the importance of mammary neoplasia in man and the use of monkeys as experimental animals in cancer research, it is important that the mammary region of lower primates should always be carefully examined during necropsies for naturally occurring neoplasms. Details of all cases should be published.