Lacrimal gland myoepithelioma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

• Published in: Comparative medicine 2004-08, Vol.54 (4), p.443-446
• Main Authors: Munday, J.S, Rodriguez, N.A, Thomas, D.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; case studies; laboratory animals; Lacrimal Apparatus - pathology; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases - diagnosis; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases - pathology; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases - veterinary; Macaca mulatta; Male; Monkey Diseases - diagnosis; Monkey Diseases - pathology; Myoepithelioma - diagnosis; Myoepithelioma - pathology; Myoepithelioma - veterinary; neoplasms; old animals
• ISSN: 1532-0820; 2769-819X

An 18-year-old rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) developed ptosis of the left upper eyelid due to a mass that had first been observed 10 years previously. The 11 x 7 x 7-mm mass was surgically excised, and the ptosis resolved after 5 days. Histologic examination of the mass revealed two confluent cell populations. Most cells were spindle-shaped and were arranged in loose fascicles. Smaller numbers of cells had squamous differentiation. The spindle-shaped cells expressed smooth muscle actin. Cells with squamous differentiation did not express smooth muscle actin, but did, along with around half of the spindle-shaped cells, express pan-cytokeratin. On the basis of histologic and immunohistochemical findings, the mass was diagnosed as myoepithelioma. The neoplasm most likely originated from the palpebral lobe of the lacrimal gland, although accessory lacrimal gland origin could not be excluded. Recurrence of the neoplasm has not been observed 6 months after surgery.