Intestinal ganglioneuroma in a kitten–a case report and review of literature

An intestinal ganglioneuroma of a 6–week–old male kitten is described. The neoplasm was well circumscribed and involved a 6–5–cm segment of the jejunum, which was dilated and had a 6–10 mm thick wall. It was characterized histologically by irregularly–arranged bundles of nerve fibres, with Schwann cells and single or groups of round or angular ganglion cells. Some of the ganglion cells had satellite cells. Vessels with prominent endothelial cells, and islands of epithelial cells forming acini, were also seen. The age of the kitten and slow nature of growth of this tumour led the authors to believe that this is a case of congenital neoplasia. This is the first report of an intestinal ganglioneuroma in a cat.