A case of hepatic carcinoid in a red deer hind (Cervus elaphus)

A carcinoid tumour in the liver of a red deer hind (Cervus elaphus) is described. Macroscopically, the liver was considerably enlarged with multifocal, firm, yellow and red nodular neoplastic masses, which were histopathologically diagnosed as hepatic carcinoids. The diagnosis was confirmed by modified Grimelius staining, which demonstrated numerous small argyrophilic granules in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells, and by immunohistochemistry. The neoplastic cells gave a strong positive reaction for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin and a weak positive reaction for chromogranin A. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a hepatic carcinoid in red deer.