Neoplasms of the bovine gastrointestinal tract

Neoplasms of the bovine gastrointestinal tract are rare, possibly because of the low age of the sample population (slaughtered cattle). Forestomach neoplasia (papilloma/squamous cell carcinoma) has a high incidence in cattle from northern England and Scotland because of the mutagenic effects of bracken fern consumption and its interaction with BPV-4. Lymphosarcoma in the abomasum occurs in 41 per cent of cattle with lymphosarcoma, the most common bovine neoplasm in the United States. Small intestinal adenocarcinoma is associated with the papilloma/squamous cell carcinoma complex in the forestomach in England and Scotland, but occurs sporadically in other geographic locations. These lesions may be amenable to surgery, but death from metastatic disease occurs within 1 year. Neoplasms of the large intestine are rarely reported, but usually are adenocarcinoma. Adenoma and fibroma of the rectum may produce clinical signs of tenesmus and rectal prolapse. In general, neoplasia in cattle carries a poor prognosis because of early metastasis of adenocarcinoma and the high fatality of lymphosarcoma. Forestomach fibroma may be treated surgically with success, and palliative surgery for focal small intestinal tumors may be rewarding in individual cases.