Tumours in calves: comparative aspects

Our plain-English summary of Tumours in calves: comparative aspects, by W. Misdorp (Journal of Comparative Pathology, 2002).

The study

• Author: W. Misdorp
• Journal: Journal of Comparative Pathology
• Published: 2002;127(2-3):96-105
• Cited by: 28 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, calf neoplasia is discussed in relation to a series of cases comprising (1). spontaneous congenital bovine tumours of fetuses and newborn animals, (2). spontaneous juvenile-type tumours in calves aged 2-12 months, and (3). iatrogenic tumours of calves. The congenital cases (n=14) consisted of tumours of a predominantly mesenchymal and malignant nature (malignant lymphoma, mesothelioma and mixed mesodermal tumour). In the juvenile cases (n=11), malignant lymphoma and sarcoma were the commonest forms. In comparing tumour patterns in calves with those reported in adult cattle, it was apparent that tumours were less common in the former (6 versus 60 per 100000) and that, with the exception of malignant lymphoma, the types of tumour differed. Carcinomas, which were virtually absent in calves, predominated in adults, probably due to the longer exposure of older animals to carcinogenic factors. In comparing tumour patterns in calves with those reported in pigs and children, it was clear that calf cases were mainly sporadic, with the notable exception of malignant lymphoma in twins. In young pigs, however, several types of tumour (some hereditary) were reported on a single farm as multiple cases. In children, tumours occurred more frequently than in calves, and many neoplasms in both children and calves could be regarded as embryonic tumours or hamartomas. Little is known about the pathogenetic pathways of tumours in calves, with the exception of congenital neuro-fibromatosis (hereditary) and possibly of mesotheliomatosis (due to asbestos). Modern methods of analysing chromosomal and gene aberrations may be helpful in clarifying the pathogenesis of congenital tumours.

In plain English

This veterinary paper described 25 spontaneous tumours in calves from the files of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, and the Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht. It compared them with published reports on calves, adult cattle, pigs and children. Fourteen tumours were of the congenital type, found in fetuses and newborn or very young calves. Eleven were of the juvenile type, found in calves aged 2 to 12 months. The congenital cases included three diffuse peritoneal mesotheliomas, three malignant lymphomas and three mixed mesodermal tumours. Among the juvenile cases, malignant lymphoma was most common (5 cases), followed by sarcoma (3). One more peritoneal mesothelioma, in a 5-month-old calf, had spread to the abdominal lymph nodes. The study did not measure asbestos or any other exposure in these calves. In the discussion, the author noted that asbestos fibres are suspected of playing a role in peritoneal mesothelioma in calves, citing other studies from Germany and from Wisconsin and Minnesota. The author concluded that little is known about how calf tumours arise, apart from hereditary congenital neurofibromatosis and possibly mesotheliomatosis due to asbestos.

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: Case series of calf tumours from pathology files, compared with tumours reported in the literature (calves, adult cattle, pigs, children)
• Who was studied: 25 calves with spontaneous tumours: 14 congenital (fetuses, newborn and very young calves) and 11 juvenile (calves aged 2 to 12 months), from files in Amsterdam and Utrecht, the Netherlands. The paper gives no collection dates. Six cases had been reported earlier.
• Exposure: No exposure was studied in this case series. Asbestos is mentioned only in the discussion, based on other studies (Stober et al., 1990, Germany; Croft, 1983, Wisconsin and Minnesota). No fiber type is named.
• Main results:
  • Among the 14 congenital cases, three were diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma (cases 4, 5 and 6).
  • Two calves with peritoneal mesothelioma (cases 4 and 5) were delivered by caesarean section. Their mothers had hydrallantois and uterine torsion, which the author described as possibly related to the calves' mesotheliomas.
  • The mesothelioma in calf 6 (age 35 days) was found after the calf was slaughtered for increasing abdominal swelling. It showed marked variation in cell shape (pleomorphism) and bone formation in its supporting tissue.
  • Among the 11 juvenile cases, multicentric malignant lymphoma was the most common tumour (5 cases), followed by sarcomas (3 cases). One peritoneal mesothelioma (case 20, 5 months old) had spread to the abdominal lymph nodes.
  • Only one carcinoma occurred in the series: a nasal and ethmoid tumour in calf 25.
• The authors' conclusion: The author concluded that little is known about how tumours in calves develop, except hereditary congenital neurofibromatosis and possibly mesotheliomatosis due to asbestos. The asbestos link rests on other studies cited in the discussion, not on this series. The author suggested that modern analysis of chromosomal and gene abnormalities may help clarify how congenital tumours arise.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Tumour rates in calves and children are hard to compare accurately. The calf figures come from post-mortem findings in clinically healthy slaughter animals, while the children's figures come from tumour registries.
  • The diagnosis for calf 13 was uncertain because the site of the primary tumour was unclear.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Sarcoma, Carcinoma, Carcinogenic, Neoplasm.

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