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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has a high incidence in non‐human primates (NHPs), which affects animal health and causes huge losses to the experimental monkey breeding industry. In this case, gastroscope showed a smooth‐surfaced elevated lesion located approximately 18 cm from the incisor teeth of the diseased rhesus monkey. Computed tomography (CT) showed a space‐occupying lesion in the oesophagus. Haematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining revealed an invasive tumour of polygonal nests in the submucosa and muscularis, while keratosis and nuclear atypia were also observed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies revealed tumour cells positive for p63, CK5/6, p40, CK20, CK7 and CK19. Based on imaging and pathology findings, the rhesus monkey was diagnosed as oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and was treated surgically. Unfortunately, the rhesus monkey was euthanized eventually according to its poor health condition. This provides an important reference for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC in rhesus monkeys, and also provides an important spontaneous animal model for future research on ESCC. This report described a rhesus monkey with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In the study, the diagnostic methods including clinical examination, imaging and pathological comprehensive analysis were described. Gastroscope examination and CT scan showed oesophagus obstruction; HE staining revealed oesophageal tumour composed of nests of polygonal cells in the submucosa and muscularis; IHC revealed tumour cells positive for p63, CK5/6, p40, CK20, CK7 and CK19 .

Upper digestive tract (UDT) cancer is rare in cattle, however in Southern Brazil, the UDT squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are relatively common and have been associated with bracken fern consumption and the presence of papillomas. Although a theory of pathogenesis considers bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4) as a cofactor in the development of these SCCs, some aspects of the etiopathogenesis of this disease need to be more investigated. In fact, detection of BPV-4 in UDT papillomas is scarce in other regions of the world and has not been performed in Brazil. Therefore, this study had two aims: 1) to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of 100 natural cases of SCCs in the UDT of cattle grazing on bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) highly contaminated areas, investigating the associations between these parameters; and 2) to investigate the presence of papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the UDT papillomas (n = 47) from 30 cattle that also had UDT SCCs. There were statistically significant associations between clinical signs and tumor localization in the UDT; between histological grade of differentiation and tumor localization; and a trend towards significant association between histological grade of differentiation and presence of metastases. The average age of cattle with oropharyngeal SCCs was 7.39 years, with statistically significant difference comparing to cattle with esophageal SCCs (8.6 years). No statistical association was observed among other clinical-pathological parameters (growth pattern and primary site of the tumor) analyzed. No BPV DNA was detected in papillomas by PCR. Therefore, these results suggest the possibility that papillomas of the UDT are not necessarily associated with BPV infection.

A backyard laying hen exhibiting muscular atrophy, dyspnea, and absence of egg production was analyzed for diagnostic insights. Gross findings revealed the presence of a large ulcerated mass with irregular edges involving the caudal part of the oropharynx and the cranial part of the esophagus, occluding the lumen of the esophagus and compressing the trachea. Small nodular lesions were detected also in the lungs. Histologically, both esophageal and pulmonary masses were characterized by nests of pleomorphic epithelial cells with squamous differentiation. The diagnosis was of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with the uncommon feature of pulmonary metastasis.

Six cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were identified in six captive adult Pacific (Phoca vitulina richardsii; n = 2) and Atlantic (Phoca vitulina concolor; n = 4) harbor seals. These seals presented with intermittent dysphagia, regurgitation, inappetence, and abnormal posturing. Common clinical pathology findings in these seals included azotemia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, and leukocytosis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy commonly revealed an ulcerated mass near the gastroesophageal junction. Each seal was euthanized (n = 3) due to poor prognosis, subsequently died while undergoing an anesthetic procedure (n = 2), or found dead (n = 1). The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed via biopsy of esophageal mucosa during endoscopy or histopathologic examination of affected tissues after necropsy. On the basis of clinical and postmortem findings, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in aged harbor seals exhibiting clinical signs of regurgitation, decreased appetite or anorexia, vomiting, and/or abnormal posturing.

An adult male domestic shorthair cat was presented for vomiting and anorexia, with a three-month history of weight loss. Bradycardia was documented during physical examination and was diagnosed as sinusal by electrocardiography. Blood electrolytes analysis revealed a marked ionised hypercalcaemia. Thoracic radiographs revealed a large soft tissue opacity at the level of the distal oesophagus. Subsequent thoracic ultrasonography and oesophagoscopy confirmed the presence of a tissue mass infiltrating distal oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction and neighbouring tissues. After biopsy and histopathological analysis, a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was diagnosed. Sinus bradycardia was assumed to be related to an increased vagal tone due to the close proximity of the vagal nerve with the infiltrative lesion or, less likely, severe hypercalcaemia. This case describes an atypical clinical presentation of an SCC in an uncommon location. Furthermore, to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of hypercalcaemia associated with oesophageal SCC in a cat.

This report describes the morphologic and histologic features of a case of esophageal Gongylonema pulchrum infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a 17-yr–old, female vari (Lemur macaco variegates). The lemur had lived in a German zoo and had a clinical history of dyspnea, vomiting, and anorexia. At necropsy, a whitish, soft, nodular, centrally necrotic mass was found in the caudal third of the esophagus. In addition, numerous intraepithelial nematodes (G. pulchrum) were observed in the entire esophagus. Results suggest a relation between infection with G. pulchrum and development of an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and esophagus was diagnosed in an adult Japanese bantam rooster. Grossly, a cauliflowerlike mass with irregular edges was found involving the ventrolateral surfaces of the caudal portion of the oropharynx and cervical portion of the esophagus. The large volume of the mass almost occluded the lumen of the alimentary passage. Histologically, the tumor consisted of irregular cords of pleomorphic epithelial cells that showed a disorganized pattern of growth and invaded the adjacent tissues. Keratinized epithelial cells and moderate numbers of keratin pearls were readily observed. The mitotic index was low, and, although the tumor was locally invasive, we found no evidence of vascular invasion or metastasis.

In many areas of the world there is a geographically localized high incidence of alimentary and bladder cancer in cattle. Studies in western Scotland have demonstrated that this phenomenon is associated with ingestion of bracken fern. However, the affected animals and herds were shown also to have an unusually high infection rate of alimentary papillomas caused by a previously unrecognised bovine papillomavirus (BPV) and that these tumours could undergo malignant transformation. Long-term field and experimental studies were started and indicate that the pathogenesis of the tumours and their relationship to virus infection and food-derived mutagens is complex. Results from these studies, and from cellular and molecular biology experiments, are pre­sented and discussed in the context of recent papillomavirus findings in the human subject.