Bronchioalveolar carcinoma in an adult alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

• Published in: BMC veterinary research Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 139
• Main Authors: Moser, Lara, Kegler, Kristel, Precht, Christina, Zanolari, Patrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 09.05.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Alpaca; Alpacas; Blood; Blood tests; Bronchiolar adenocarcinoma; Camelids; Cancer; Carcinoma; Case Report; CAT scans; Complete blood count; Computed tomography; Diagnosis; Diagnostic imaging; Differential diagnosis; Diseases; Dyspnea; Euthanasia; Histochemistry; Histopathology; Lesions; Lung cancer; Lung CT-scan; Lung diseases; Lungs; Medical examination; Medical imaging; Neoplasia; Parenchyma; Pneumothorax; Radiography; Radiology; Respiration; South American camelid; Tuberculosis; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Veterinary oncology; Weight loss; Switzerland; Radiology; South American camelid; Lung CT-scan; Alpaca; Bronchiolar adenocarcinoma; Neoplasia
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1895-8

This report describes a case of a bronchiolar adenocarcinoma in a 6-year old alpaca mare. For the first time in an alpaca, neoplasia was classified by histopathology as a lepidic-predominant bronchiolar adenocarcinoma. The mare was referred to the Clinic for Ruminants after a 6-week period of forced breathing and weight loss. The clinical examination included complete blood count, blood chemistry, ultrasound, radiographs and a CT-scan of the thorax. A bilateral pneumothorax and several, structures within the lung parenchyma were diagnosed. Differential diagnosis included neoplasia, tuberculosis and fungal granulomas. The owner requested euthanasia due to the mare's ongoing deterioration. At postmortem examination, the granulomatous changes in the lungs were histopathologically classified as lepidic dominant bronchiolar adenocarcinoma. Neoplastic diseases are more often seen in South American camelids compared to other farm animal species. The use of a CT scan was helpful in classifying the lung lesions and give a clear prognosis.