Mucinous adenocarcinoma in the abomasum of a cow

A cow with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the abomasum presented to the teaching hospital with a markedly distended abdomen from which 80 liters of fluid was drained during trocharization. An exploratory laparotomy allowed removal of an additional 80 liters of fluid from the peritoneal cavity and revealed a diffusely thickened parietal peritoneum and a palpable cranial abdominal mass. The cow was euthanatized. At necropsy, the abomasum was diffusely thickened and firm. The peritoneal and pleural surfaces were covered with numerous coalescing, firm white nodules. Microscopically, the thickened abomasum was multifocally effaced by aggregates, cords, and acini of neoplastic cells separated by amphophilic, foamy to wispy periodic acid-Schiff- and alcian blue-positive material. Cell boundaries were indistinct and large, clear, colorless intracytoplasmic vacuoles were common.