CASE REPORT: ENDOMETRIAL STROMAL SARCOMA AND LIPOSARCOMA IN AN AFRICAN HEDGEHOG (Atelerix albiventris)

A 2-year-7-month-old female intact African hedgehog was presented with a subcutaneous mass around the right side of the neck as well as an intra-abdominal mass found during palpation. Surgical excision and exploratory laparotomy were performed. A uterine mass was identified during laparotomy and ovariohysterectomy was performed. The botryoid mass measured 4.5×3.0×3.0cm and was located in the right uterine horn. It had a meat-like texture and was yellow-white and dark red in color. The removed subcutaneous mass measured 2.5×2.1×1.0cm. The mass was well-encapsulated and had a yellow-white homogeneous texture on the cut surface. Histologically, the myometrium was invaded by neoplastic cells and the tissue boundaries were not obvious. Neoplastic cells were arranged in a whirling or intersecting pattern, with strong angiogenesis present. Vacuolated nuclei were round and oval to cigar shaped, with one to multiple nucleoli present. Immunohistochemistry revealed a positive reaction for CD10, but a negative reaction for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin in the uterine neoplastic cells. Histologically, well-differentiated adipocytes with sheets of undifferentiated polygonal neoplastic cells, which were characterized by vacuolated nuclei with prominent multiple nucleoli, were found in the subcutaneous mass. Neoplastic cells of the subcutaneous mass were positively stained with antibodies of MDM2 and estrogen receptor (ER), but failed to give a positive result for vimentin because the cross-species interaction was insufficient. The definitive diagnosis was endometrial stromal sarcoma and liposarcoma in an African hedgehog.