[Spindle-cell sarcoma in the mandibular area of a 5-year-old Holstein Friesian cow].

A 5-year-old German-Holstein cow was presented with a swelling of the head which had been present for 3 months. Clinical examination revealed a 15 x 20 x 15 cm firm mass on the right side of the head. The cow was lethargic, showed an extended head and neck posture, nasal stridor, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and inspiratory dyspnea with labored breathing. Furthermore, dysphagia as well as moderate to strong salivation were evident. Radiological examination revealed a diffuse, poorly defined mass with different densities overlying the bony structures of the skull. Endoscopic examination confirmed a space-occupying mass in the pharyngeal area. Sonographically, the swelling presented as a compact, clearly inhomogeneous tissue with focal areas of different echogenicity. Necropsy of the euthanized cattle confirmed the presence of a tumor that had already metastasized to the lungs. Histologically and immunohistochemically, the tumor presented as a spindle-cell, vimentin-expressing soft tissue sarcoma, most likely compatible with fibrosarcoma.