Gliomas in Animals: A Report of Two Astrocytomas in the Common Fowl

In one of the first modern studies of comparative tumor pathology, Bland-Sutton (4) stated that “no tumors are peculiar to man.” While this view was supported in general by subsequent observations, the infrequent reports of gliomas and other tumors of the central nervous system in animals other than man seemed to be significant. This low incidence, however, is probably more apparent than real. In a recent dissertation on the subject, Grun (20) points out that post-mortem examination of the brain in animals is performed comparatively infrequently and that possible carriers of tumors of the central nervous system are often disposed of by slaughter without adequate study. Enhanced interest in the study of brain tumors in man has been reflected in the increased number of reports of cerebral neoplasms in animals, especially during the past decade, but many of these cases have been so inadequately described that even an approximate classification is difficult. There is thus a definite need for wider information on the comparative pathology of tumors of the nervous system. The present communication aims to contribute to the subject by a brief critical review of the literature on gliomas in the lower animals, and by the reports of two additional cases in the common fowl.