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Mammary Mucinous Carcinoma in the Cat

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (Bologna), Italy

Mucinous carcinoma of the mammary gland is a rare tumor characterized by excessive mucin production. In human and canine pathology, the diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma is based on the demonstration of an epithelial phenotype of mucus-producing cells and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS)-diastase positivity of the mucin. The histologic and immunohistologic characteristics of feline mucinous mammary carcinoma were examined. Of 656 cases of feline mammary neoplasms and dysplasias, 3.2% were found to be mucin-producing tumors. Cytokeratin 19 (16 cases positive, 4 heterogenous, and 1 negative) and vimentin (15 cases positive, 2 heterogenous, and 4 negative) expression were examined, and the mucin produced was alcian blue positive. PAS-diastase staining was variable (38.1%). Based on these findings, mucinous mammary carcinoma in the cat varies significantly from the human and canine varieties and alcian blue is the prominent stain in the diagnosis of feline mucinous carcinoma.

Key words: Cats; immunohistochemistry; mammary tumors; mucinous carcinoma.

Request reprints from Barbara Brunetti, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Division of Veterinary Pathology, via Tolara di Sopra 50-40064 Ozzano Emilia - Bologna (Italy). E-mail: bbrunetti{at}vet.unibo.it