Nasal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in a Free-Living Japanese Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)

Neuroendocrine carcinoma was diagnosed in the left nasal cavity of a free-living Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus). Microscopically, the tumour consisted of sheets of anaplastic cells separated by narrow zones of fibrovascular stroma. The neoplastic cells had varying numbers of cytoplasmic granules stained by the Grimelius method. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were variably labelled for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, vimentin, chromogranin A and S-100. Ultrastructurally, some of the neoplastic cells had cytoplasmic membrane-bound dense-core granules of approximate diameter 140-240 nm. The tumour had infiltrated the cerebrum and metastasized to the pituitary gland, mandibular and pulmonary lymph nodes, lungs, thyroid gland and adrenal glands.