Congenital skin neoplasia in cattle

A survey was carried out on all congenital skin tumours and hamartomas in c attle over a 20-year period from 1977 to 1996. The clinical features and hi stopathology of all tumour types and of vascular hamatomas are described. F our types of congenital skin neoplasm and hamartoma were diagnosed clinical ly and confirmed by histopathological examination. Mast cell tumours were p resent in six animals, melanoma in two animals (only in cross-breed calves) , cutaneous lymphosarconia in two animals, myxoma in one animal and vascula r hamartoma in three animals. It is believed that congenital cutaneous mast cell tumour, cutaneous lymphosarcoma, and myxoma in cattle are described h ere for the first time. Only cutaneous lymphosarcoma was found to be malign ant with concurrent systemic involvement. Pruritus was observed only in the animals affected with mast cell tumour.