Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma with a Sarcomatoid Growth Pattern and Signet-Ring-Like Structure in a Female F344 Rat

We report a biphasic malignant mesothelioma in an aged female F344/DuCrlCrlj rat. Macroscopically, multiple pale brown nodules were observed in the abdominal cavity with retention of bloody ascites. Histopathologically, the tumor cells spread over the peritoneum and formed masses on the surface and underlying adipose tissues. The tumor cells dominantly proliferated in a solid, nodular or nest-like pattern with modest amount of fibrillar connective tissues, which contained hyaluronan. The tumor consisted of ovoid, polygonal or spindle-shaped cells that possessed eosinophilic cytoplasms including glycogen; some tumor cells showed a signet-ring-like structure. Multinucleated cells and mitosis were found frequently, and direct invasion to intra-abdominal organs and intravascular metastasis to the liver were observed. Immunohistochemically, keratin and mesothelin were strongly positive in most of tumor cells, while vimentin was mainly positive in spindle-shaped cells. Podoplanin was also positive, particularly in the cell membrane of tumor cells. Electron microscopically, tumor cells showed an intercellular desmosome-like structure, basement membrane and microvillus. We diagnosed the case as a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with a sarcomatoid growth pattern and signet-ring-like structure.