Metastatic cholangiocarcinoma in a llama (Lama glama)

Abstract

A 2-year-old female llama ( Lama glama), from a private zoological park, with anorexia, ataxia, dyspnea, ascites, and emaciation, was necropsied. Gross inspection, and cytological, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. A firm, white, multinodular mass, 25 cm in diameter was found in the liver parenchyma. Similar nodules up to 3 cm were found in lymph nodes, lung, diaphragm, and peritoneum. Histologically, the affected organs were replaced by an infiltrative growth of undifferentiated neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for pancytokeratin (panCK), CK20, and CK19, and negative for thyroid transcription factor 1, CK7, and carcinoembryonic antigen. A diagnosis of poorly differentiated metastatic cholangiocarcinoma was made.