Ameloblastic carcinoma in a horse

The clinical, gross morphological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of an ameloblastic carcinoma in a 30-year-old Quarter Horse mare are reported. This tumour was fast growing, locally invasive and destructive. Histologically, it showed an infiltrative pattern of large islands, broad sheets and, at the periphery, small cords of moderately pleomorphic round, oval to spindle-shaped cells. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed positive labelling for vimentin, cytokeratin 5/6 and cytokeratin 14. In the oral cavity of human beings, this immunolabelling pattern is unique for the embryonal enamel organ and tumours of ameloblastomatous epithelial origin, which strongly supports the diagnosis of equine ameloblastic carcinoma. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.