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Published on: January 14, 2014
Polyclonal lymphoid tumor of the choroid plexus presenting as an intraventricular mass in a young gorilla
C Thomas1, D Anderson, M Grigg-Damberger
1Section of Neuropathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Insights
A rare lymphoid lesion in a young gorilla's choroid plexus presented as a mass, causing hydrocephalus. This non-neoplastic proliferation, of unknown cause, is the first reported case in veterinary literature.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Comparative Oncology
- Primate Medicine
Background:
- The choroid plexus, a crucial structure in the brain, is rarely associated with lymphoid lesions.
- Understanding rare neurological conditions in non-human primates is vital for conservation and comparative medicine.
Observation:
- A young gorilla presented with a large lateral ventricle mass, leading to hydrocephalus and neurological deficits.
- The mass was identified as an unusual lymphoid lesion with reactive germinal centers.
- No underlying cause was identified through comprehensive diagnostic work-up.
Findings:
- Histological examination, flow cytometry, and immunophenotyping indicated a non-neoplastic lymphoid proliferation.
- Gene rearrangement studies did not reveal a neoplastic process.
- This represents the first reported instance of such a choroid plexus lesion in veterinary or human literature.
Implications:
- This case expands the differential diagnosis for central nervous system masses in primates.
- The etiology of this lymphoid proliferation remains unknown, warranting further investigation.
- Complete surgical removal resulted in a positive outcome, suggesting a potentially favorable prognosis for similar cases.
Abstract:
An unusual lymphoid lesion with reactive germinal centers, occurring in the choroid plexus of a young gorilla, is reported. It presented as a large mass in the lateral ventricle with hydrocephalus and neurological symptoms. A work-up did not reveal any underlying cause for this lesion. No similar lesion of the choroid plexus has been reported in either human or veterinary literature. Histological work-up, including flow cytometry, gene rearrangement studies and T and B cell markers, favored the lesion being a non-neoplastic lymphoid proliferation of unknown etiology. The prognosis is unknown, although, following complete removal, the animal is well and free of tumor at the time of this report.
