ONCOLOGY - Farm Animal Masses

Question 1

What are the differential diagnoses for masses on ruminants?

Answer 1

Neoplasia
Seroma
Haematoma
Abscess
Lymphadenomegaly

Question 2

What is a seroma?

Answer 2

A seroma is a localised accumulation of serous fluid that can form after surgery or trauma

Question 3

Which history questions should you ask when investigating a mass on a ruminant?

Answer 3

Has the patient experienced any recent trauma?
When was the mass first noticed?
What is the growth rate of the mass?
Has the patient had any previous masses?
Is the mass hot or painful?
Has there been any other clinical signs?

Question 4

Which specific factors should you assess on clinical examination when investigating a ruminant mass?

Answer 4

Full thorough clinical examination
Anatomical site of the lesion
Depth of the lesion
Measure the lesion
Assess for ulceration of the lesion
Mobility of the lesion

Question 5

Which diagnostic testing can be done for ruminant masses?

Answer 5

Ultrasound
Fine needle aspirate (FNA)

Question 6

Which factors should you assess when ultrasound scanning a mass?

Answer 6

Echogenicity of the mass
Thickness of the mass wall

Question 7

Which differential diagnoses are indicated by anechoic to hypoechoic content within the mass on ultrasound?

Answer 7

Seroma
Haematoma

Question 8

Which differential diagnoses are indicated by mixed echogenicity within the mass on ultrasound?

Answer 8

Abscess
Neoplasia
Organised seroma
Organised haematoma

Question 9

What is an organised seroma?

Answer 9

When a seroma persists chronically, the body can begin to attempt to resolve the fluid accumulation through fibrin deposition in an attempt to form a more solid structure

Question 10

What is an organised haematoma?

Answer 10

When a haematoma persists chronically, the body can begin to attempt to resolve the fluid accumulation through fibrin deposition and clot formation in an attempt to form a more solid structure

Question 11

Which needle should you use for a fine needle aspirate (FNA) in a ruminant?

Answer 11

At least an 18g, 1-1.5 inch needle

Question 12

What should you assess when performing a fine needle aspirate (FNA) on a mass?

Answer 12

Thickeness of the mass wall when inserting the needle
Consistency of the mass when inserting the needle
Content of the mass

Question 13

Which differential diagnosis is indicated by blood on fine needle aspirate (FNA)?

Answer 13

Haematoma

Question 14

Which differential diagnosis is indicated by clear fluid on fine needle aspirate (FNA)?

Answer 14

Seroma

Question 15

Which differential diagnosis is indicated by pus on fine needle aspirate (FNA)?

Answer 15

Abscess

Question 16

Which differential diagnoses are indicated if nothing is aspirated on fine needle aspirate (FNA)?

Answer 16

Pus may be too thick to aspirate
Neoplasia
Lymphadenomegaly

Question 17

How do you treat a seroma?

Answer 17

Seromas should resolve themselves

Question 18

How do you treat a haematoma?

Answer 18

Haematomas should resolve themselves

Question 19

How do you treat an abscess?

Answer 19

Lance the abscess at a site that will allow gravity to assist in drainage, using a cross or T-shaped incison to try and keep the incision open to allow for further drainage and flushing with water for approximately three days

Question 20

How do you treat lymphadenomegaly?

Answer 20

You will need to do further investigations and find out the underlying cause of the lymphadenomegaly

Question 21

What is enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL)?

Answer 21

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is a neoplastic disease in cattle caused by oncogenic retrovirus, bovine leukaemia virus

Question 22

How is enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) transmitted?

Answer 22

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is transmitted via vertical transmission

Question 23

What is the typical signalement for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL)?

Answer 23

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) presents in cows over 4 years old due to the 4 - 5 year incubation period of bovine leukaemia virus. EBL is also more common in dairy cattle

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL)?

Answer 24

Most cases are subclinical
Tumurous lesions
Lymphadenomegaly
Weight loss
Decreased milk yield
Lymphocytosis on haematology

Question 25

(T/F) Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is a notifiable disease

Answer 25

TRUE.

Question 26

What is the notifiable disease legislation for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL)?

Answer 26

If you examine a bovine patient and suspect enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), you should report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) immediately. You will have to detain the patient on the premises where they are kept until it has been examined by an APHA veterinary inspector. This also applies for carcasses which are suspected to have EBL

Question 27

Which factors would classify a patient as a 'suspected animal' for enzootic bovine leukaemia (EBL)?

Answer 27

Tumurous changes (except for papillomas and haemangiomas) or; Lymphadenomegaly or; Lymphocytosis on haematology

Question 28

What is sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL)?

Answer 28

Sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) is a neoplastic disease in cattle with an unknown aetiology

Question 29

What is the typical signalement for sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL)?

Answer 29

Sporadic bovine leukosis (SPL) is typically seen in young cattle (less than 4 years old)

Question 30

What are the three clinical presentations of sporadic bovine leukosis (SPL)?

Answer 30

Cutaneous sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) Thymic sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) Multicentric sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL)

Question 31

Which differential diagnosis presents very similarly to cutaneous sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL)?

Answer 31

Cutaneous actinobacillosis

Question 32

How does thymic sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) present clinically?

Answer 32

Thymic sporadic bovin leukosis (SBL) will cause clinical signs as a result of the space occupying lesion in the mediastinum, resulting in increased respiratory rate, jugular distension and subcutaneous oedema

Question 33

How do you treat sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL)?

Answer 33

There is no treatment for sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) and it has a very poor prognosis

Question 34

What causes squamous cell carcinoma in farm animals?

Answer 34

Squamous cell carcinoma is caused by the chronic exposure of unpigmented skin to UV light, resulting in solar dermatitis which can progress to in situ carcinoma, which can progress to an infiltrative squamous cell carcinoma

Question 35

What are the most common anatomical sites for squamous cell carcinomas in farm animals?

Answer 35

Ocular squamous cell carcinoma Peri-ocular squamous cell carcinoma | Squamous cell carcinomas are often bilateral in ruminants

Question 36

Which breed of cow is prone to squamous cell carcinomas?

Answer 36

Hereford

Question 37

How do you treat squamous cell carcinomas in farm animals?

Answer 37

Surgical excision Enucleation Cryotherapy

Question 38

What is enucleation?

Answer 38

Enucleation is the surgical removal of the eye from the orbit

Question 39

What is a papilloma? | Papillomas are very common in cattle

Answer 39

A papilloma is a benign wart-like growth induced by bovine papilloma virus

Question 40

How do you treat papillomas?

Answer 40

Papillomas should resolve spontaneously however may require surgical excision depending on their anatomical location

Question 41

What are granulosa cell tumours?

Answer 41

Granulosa cell tumours are oestrogen or progesterone secreting tumours which arise from the granulosa cells in the ovaries

Question 42

What is the typical clinical presentation of granulosa cell tumours in cattle?

Answer 42

Granulosa cell tumours present as cows that will not go into oestrus or nymphomania depending on the hormone being produced by the tumour

Question 43

How do granulosa cell tumours present on rectal ultrasound?

Answer 43

Granulosa cell tumours present as thick walled, honeycomb massess on the ovary

Question 44

How do you treat granulosa cell tumours?

Answer 44

Culling

Question 45

What causes ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma?

Answer 45

Jaaksiekte sheep retrovirus