SOMR AAI'ECTY OF NEOP1,ASIA TN MARINE ANIkIALS
209
l i ~ ~ e t l
partly hy c.olurnnar mucr~s secreting epithelium and partly by
irregularly strat ificd epithelium. 'I'hr c>ent,ral yellow core consisted of
degenerate c*ell,.i. In the same paper, Kewell and Willis (1940) described
grsnulosn (.ell trrmoura, two in Balasnoptera mwculus (Linnaeus, 1758)
and one ill Hnlnenoptera physalw. These ovarian cysts were about 33.5 cm in diameter, and all presented with partially cystic characteristics. The cystic spaces were lined by granulosa cells in various stages of
degeneration. None of the cysts was large enough t o present the typical
" rosette " appearance seen in smaller mammals. Some degenerative
changes were aec.11, together with some dystrophic mineralization.
Although tutr~ours of the reyrodrlctive tracts of several Cetacea
have been documented, other ocrasional neoplasms have been noted but
as they are relativcly so fcw in number it is not possible to classify them
into any particrilar grouping.
Rewell and Willis (1949) reported a papilloma of the tongue in
Ralaenoptern, musculus. This was a pedunculated mass of 8 cm in
diameter. It presented a coarsely papilliferous surface with some
pigmentation of the deeper layers (Fig. 33). Histologically, it consisted
of a benign squamous celled papillotna. Pigmented dendritic cells were
noted in the deeper layers of the epithelium. Stolk (1952) described a
fibroma of the tongue in a pregnant Balaenopteraphysalw. It presented
as a firm pedunculated tumour which measured 55 x 44 x 29 mm.
The tumour consisted of dense connc.rtivt* tissue elements covered by
squarnous t.pitheliun~. Stolk wcnt on to describe an adenoma of the
liver in Tursiops lrzcncatus (Montagrrc, 1821) although the fact that
these nodules w i ~ c multiple and the only microscopical picture shown
is one of bile (1uc.t proliferation ~urroirndetl by dense connective tissue
lind es no hepatic. parenchyma waa shown, this diagnosis is suspect. It is
much more likely to represent a degenerat,ive change or a deposit from
sornt. unexami~letl site. Often when examining the complex stomach of
the dolphin particularly thc fundus and pyloric parts of the stomach
rnliltiplc " grape-like " clusters are seen, often in great numberrl. On
first macroscopicul examination each appears as a papilliferous tumour
hut they are in fact parasites (Schryver et ul., 1967). They are strigeid
trematodes known as stomach flukes (Brauninu cordiformis). It is a
pity that although, in his day, Stolk must have been one of the most
prolific writers on diseases of the fish and marine mammals, one is inclined to be sornewllat suvpicious of some of his findings a8 he only used
a small nun~ber of illustrrttions and later tended to draw what he saw.
Stolk reported various other fibromata on the lower jaw, and subcutuneous tissue but they do not warrant further comment. Uys and Best
(1966) noted a dark nodule on the lip in Balaenoptera borealiv (Lesson.
209
l i ~ ~ e t l
partly hy c.olurnnar mucr~s secreting epithelium and partly by
irregularly strat ificd epithelium. 'I'hr c>ent,ral yellow core consisted of
degenerate c*ell,.i. In the same paper, Kewell and Willis (1940) described
grsnulosn (.ell trrmoura, two in Balasnoptera mwculus (Linnaeus, 1758)
and one ill Hnlnenoptera physalw. These ovarian cysts were about 33.5 cm in diameter, and all presented with partially cystic characteristics. The cystic spaces were lined by granulosa cells in various stages of
degeneration. None of the cysts was large enough t o present the typical
" rosette " appearance seen in smaller mammals. Some degenerative
changes were aec.11, together with some dystrophic mineralization.
Although tutr~ours of the reyrodrlctive tracts of several Cetacea
have been documented, other ocrasional neoplasms have been noted but
as they are relativcly so fcw in number it is not possible to classify them
into any particrilar grouping.
Rewell and Willis (1949) reported a papilloma of the tongue in
Ralaenoptern, musculus. This was a pedunculated mass of 8 cm in
diameter. It presented a coarsely papilliferous surface with some
pigmentation of the deeper layers (Fig. 33). Histologically, it consisted
of a benign squamous celled papillotna. Pigmented dendritic cells were
noted in the deeper layers of the epithelium. Stolk (1952) described a
fibroma of the tongue in a pregnant Balaenopteraphysalw. It presented
as a firm pedunculated tumour which measured 55 x 44 x 29 mm.
The tumour consisted of dense connc.rtivt* tissue elements covered by
squarnous t.pitheliun~. Stolk wcnt on to describe an adenoma of the
liver in Tursiops lrzcncatus (Montagrrc, 1821) although the fact that
these nodules w i ~ c multiple and the only microscopical picture shown
is one of bile (1uc.t proliferation ~urroirndetl by dense connective tissue
lind es no hepatic. parenchyma waa shown, this diagnosis is suspect. It is
much more likely to represent a degenerat,ive change or a deposit from
sornt. unexami~letl site. Often when examining the complex stomach of
the dolphin particularly thc fundus and pyloric parts of the stomach
rnliltiplc " grape-like " clusters are seen, often in great numberrl. On
first macroscopicul examination each appears as a papilliferous tumour
hut they are in fact parasites (Schryver et ul., 1967). They are strigeid
trematodes known as stomach flukes (Brauninu cordiformis). It is a
pity that although, in his day, Stolk must have been one of the most
prolific writers on diseases of the fish and marine mammals, one is inclined to be sornewllat suvpicious of some of his findings a8 he only used
a small nun~ber of illustrrttions and later tended to draw what he saw.
Stolk reported various other fibromata on the lower jaw, and subcutuneous tissue but they do not warrant further comment. Uys and Best
(1966) noted a dark nodule on the lip in Balaenoptera borealiv (Lesson.