A Case of Trichoepithelioma in a Cow

Abstract

A six year old Friesian cow from the Faculty farm was referred to the University of Nairobi’s Large Animal Clinic with an ulcerated and infected mass below the left ear. On its dorsal aspect was a smaller mass measuring 2 cm. in diameter. The growth was surgically excised, the tissues fixed in 10 % formalin and submitted for histopathological characterization. The histopathological findings of increased number of hair follicles and increased numbers of keratinized cells were consistent with a trichoepithelioma. The cow was subsequently euthanized due to regrowth of the tumor and sent for postmortem examination. This report describes the clinical, necropsy and histopathological characteristics of this rare type of tumor in cattle.