Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in a mare.
- Journal:
- Journal of comparative pathology
- Year:
- 1997
- Authors:
- Kato, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Ishikari Livestock Hygiene Service Centre · Japan
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In an 18-year-old Thoroughbred mare, researchers found a serious liver tumor that had both liver cell and bile duct cell characteristics. They used special tests to identify parts of the tumor, finding that certain markers helped distinguish between the liver and bile duct components. The presence of both liver and bile duct features in the tumor suggested it developed from a type of stem cell that can turn into either liver or bile duct cells. The study focused on understanding the tumor's structure and characteristics, but it does not mention any treatment or outcome for the mare.
Abstract
A hepatic malignant tumour composed of both hepatocellular and cholangiocellular elements was studied histologically, immunohistochemically and electron microscopically in an 18-year-old Thoroughbred mare. Bile canaliculi and alpha-fetoprotein were useful in identifying the hepatocellular element, and mucin and keratin were good markers of biliary differentiation. The simultaneous presence of bile canaliculi and mucin-producing cells in most of the neoplastic lesions suggested that this tumour arose from a stem cell with capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelium.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9179754/