Histological characteristics of a uterine hemangiosarcoma in a Brazilian Girolando cow

Abstract

A 7-year-old, pregnant dairy cow of the Girolando breed, weighing 450 kg, was referred to a veterinary hospital, presenting with lateral recumbency for 2 days. No health or reproductive alterations had ever been reported on the property of origin. A fetotomy was conducted at the hospital's reproductive care unit after purulent vaginal discharges, and no signals of fetal viability were observed, indicating an abortive process. The patient died within 24 hours following the reproductive intervention. A postmortem examination was performed, which revealed uterine alteration, comprising a bluish-black, nondelimited, focally extensive mass in the region of the serous wall, involving the uterine corpus and horns and presenting diffuse haemorrhage without mucosal involvement. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma. Uterine endothelial cells were Ki67-positive, revealing proliferative activity of the neoplasm.