Spontaneous Cerebellar Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor in a Juvenile Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

A neoplastic mass compressing the left cerebellar hemisphere and hindbrain was observed at trimming in a 3½-year-old male cynomolgus monkey from a control dose group. Microscopically, the neoplastic mass was nonencapsulated, invasive, and showed two morphological patterns. The predominant area consisted of densely packed undifferentiated, polygonal to spindle cells arranged in vague sheets supported by a scant fibrovascular stroma. The other area was less cellular and composed of round neoplastic cells separated by eosinophilic fibrillar material. Immunohistochemical staining for vimentin, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament, and S-100 confirmed the presence of primitive undifferentiated neuroectodermal cells and some cells with neuronal or glial differentiation. On the basis of histopathology and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumor with neuronal and glial differentiation was made. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors are rare in animals including nonhuman primates; this is the first published report in this species.

Bilateral Trochlear Nerve Palsy as a Consequence of Cerebellar Medulloblastoma: Clinical and Pathological Findings in a Calf

“…In human medicine, medulloblastoma constitutes up to 25% of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children, being the most common malignant tumor of the cerebellum . In veterinary medicine, medulloblastoma has been reported in dogs, cats, pigs and other species, such as rats, mice, nonhuman primates, and occasionally in cattle …”

Case report: Infratentorial Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes (ETANTR) in an 8-month-old Maine Coon

“…Recent studies have demonstrated that the human CNS embryonal tumor variants with multilayered rosettes (EBL, central MEPL, and ETANTR) have uniform molecular signatures and comprise a single clinicopathological entity named ETMR ( 21 ). Indeed, up to 95% of these tumors share 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC) amplification on chromosome 19q13.42 ( 4 ).…”

“…Medulloblastomas have been described in dogs, cattle, pigs, rats, and non-human primates with a single report in cats ( 7 , 8 , 14 – 18 ). Other CNS embryonal tumors are extremely rare and have been described mainly in dogs, with fewer reports in cattle ( 6 , 19 – 21 ).…”

Embryonal central nervous system tumor in the brain of a goose

“…Medulloblastomas have been described in dogs, cattle, pigs, rats, and non-human primates, with single case reports in a cat, a grizzly bear, and a kowari. 1,4,9,11,16,18,19,25–28,31,32 These tumors affect young calves and adult individuals of other species, and occur mainly in the cerebellum. Other CNS embryonal tumors are exceedingly rare and have been described mainly in dogs, with fewer reports in cattle and a colobus monkey.…”