A Case Report of Mammary Carcinoma in Royal Bengal Tiger

Background: In recent years increased frequency of mammary gland neoplasms have been reported in captive wild felids. Basing on published data, in tigers mammary gland carcinoma always seems to be highly invasive and metastatic. The present report describes a case of Mammary carcinoma with metastasis to lungs in a 20 year old Royal Bengal Tiger. Methods: Detailed necropsy examination of Royal Bengal Tiger revealed the subcutaneous massive lesion in the lower abdominal region. Representative tissue samples were collected in 10% formalin for histopathology examination. Result: Histopathological examination revealed small clusters of neoplastic epithelial cells. Micropapillae lacking fibrovascular cores extending into clear spaces. Cells exhibit moderate anisokaryosis and anisocytosis and variable numbers of mitoses with proliferation of fibrous connective tissue. Microscopic examination of lungs revealed the congestion, edema with focal proliferative neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in small clusters were scattered in the alveolar walls and spaces, indicative of metastasis. These histological features were suggestive of Mammary carcinoma with micropapillary pattern.