Congenital tumours and tumour-like lesions in domestic animals. 1. Cattle. A review

Our plain-English summary of Congenital tumours and tumour-like lesions in domestic animals. 1. Cattle. A review, by W. Misdorp (The Veterinary Quarterly, 2002).

The study

• Author: W. Misdorp
• Journal: The Veterinary Quarterly
• Published: 2002;24(1):1-11
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 21 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

The literature on congenital tumours and tumour-like lesions in calves was reviewed. Lesions were subdivided by their anatomical distribution and in addition also according to their histologic-pathogenetic nature. As a result of the latter method, four main groups were formed covering most of the lesions described so far: malignant lymphomas, mesotheliomas, hamartomas and embryonic tumours. Most lesions were of mesenchymal structure, carcinomas being extremely rare. Some findings may point to early genetic events, for instance twin calves both affected with malignant lymphoma and related calves with congenital facial neurofibromatosis. An external factor, asbestos, is suspected to play a role in the genesis of peritoneal mesotheliomatosis. The effects of congenital tumours on their hosts were often considerable: death by generalization (malignant lymphomas), ascites (mesotheliomas) or the growth of large abdominal tumours (nephroblastomas, mixed tumours). The latter two conditions often caused dystocia.

In plain English

This was a literature review of tumours and tumour-like lesions in fetal and newborn calves up to 2 months old. The author searched MEDLINE (1966-2000) and two veterinary databases and sorted the published cases by organ system and tumour type. Most cases fell into four main groups: malignant lymphomas, mesotheliomas, hamartomas and embryonic tumours. The author described carcinomas as extremely rare in fetal and newborn calves. In the reported cases, mesotheliomas were almost exclusively in the abdominal cavity and usually came with large amounts of fluid, in some cases causing difficult births. Where spread occurred, it was limited to regional abdominal lymph nodes. Asbestos fibres were not reported in any of the congenital mesotheliomas. However, the author noted that some affected calves came from stables with an asbestos history, and that an earlier report found asbestos fibres in mesotheliomas of older juvenile calves. The author concluded there were reasons to assume that ingested asbestos plays a role in peritoneal mesotheliomas. The author also cited an earlier proposal to use bovine mesotheliomatosis as a screening monitor for the protection of man.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: literature review
• Who was studied: Published reports of congenital tumours and tumour-like lesions in calves, defined as tumours found in fetuses and newborns up to 2 months of age. The literature came mainly from MEDLINE (1966-2000), FOCUS ON: Veterinary Science and Medicine (1993-2000), VETCD (1973-1994) and reference lists. The article gives no overall total of cases.
• Exposure: The review did not study an exposure directly. It discussed asbestos as a suspected factor in peritoneal mesotheliomas, noting that some affected calves came from stables with an asbestos history. No fibre type is named.
• Main results:
  • Most reported congenital tumours in calves fell into four main groups: malignant lymphomas, mesotheliomas, embryonic tumours and hamartomas. Mesenchymal tumours dominated.
  • Carcinomas, the most frequent tumours in adult cattle, were extremely rare in fetal and newborn calves.
  • In the reported cases, congenital mesotheliomas were multiple tumours found almost exclusively in the abdominal cavity, usually with large amounts of fluid.
  • In the mesothelioma cases, metastasis, where present, was limited to regional abdominal lymph nodes.
  • The review cited an earlier report that found asbestos fibres in mesotheliomas of older juvenile calves (not congenital cases).
• The authors' conclusion: The author concluded that there are reasons to assume ingested asbestos plays a role in the development of peritoneal mesotheliomas in calves. The author also cited an earlier proposal (reference 68) to use bovine mesotheliomatosis as a screening monitor for the protection of man.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Asbestos fibres were not reported to be present in any of the congenital mesotheliomas reviewed.
  • The causes and development of most congenital tumours were described as obscure.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Carcinoma, Ascites.

Related studies

• Tumours in calves: comparative aspects — W. Misdorp (2002)
• Pleural tumours and tumour-like lesions — F. Aluja Jaramillo, F. Gutierrez, et al. (2018)
• Does the taking of biopsies affect the metastatic potential of tumours? A systematic review of reports on veterinary and human cases and animal models — R. Klopfleisch, C. Sperling, et al. (2011)
• Veterinary cancer epidemiology — W. Misdorp (1996)
• Asbestos fibers and trace metals in the blood of cattle grazing in fields inundated by asbestos-rich sediments — H. Schreier, J.A. Shelford, et al. (1986)
• Congenital juvenile granulosa cell tumour of the testis: report of a case showing extensive degenerative changes — J.K. Chan, V.S. Chan, et al. (1990)

Browse return to medical research.