Peripheral neuroblastoma in a newborn piglet

Peripheral neuroblastoma (PNB) is a rare neoplasia derived from neuroepithelial cells. PNB typically presents as a greyish mass, composed of round cells with features of neuronal differentiation. Necropsy, performed on a 1-day-old piglet, revealed a mass craniodorsally located in the abdominal cavity. Histologically, the predominant population consisted of small round to ovoid cells with scanty cytoplasm and dark round nuclei, besides, there were larger neurone-like cells. Neurone-specific enolase and S-100 protein were immunohistochemically detected, while glial fibrillary acidic protein was negative. Histological and immunohistochemical findings substantiated the diagnosis of a grade II peripheral neuroblastoma. This seems to be the first description of a PNB in a newborn piglet.