Malignant basal cell tumor in a Djungarian hamster

A malignant basal cell tumor was found in the skin of the abdomen of a fema le Djungarian hamster of unknown age and weighing 40 g. Histologically, the tumor mass was composed of cells resembling the basal cells of the epiderm is, and these cells exhibited solid type proliferation. In the tumor tissue and necrotic foci, horn cysts were observed. Immunohistochemically, cytoke ratin was present in the tumor cells and horncysts. By electron microscopic examination, the tumor cells had scanty cell organelles and a few desmozom es. This paper describes a rare malignant basal cell tumor in a Djungarian hamster.