Spontaneous Thymoma in a Juvenile Cynomolgus Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

A single, solid, yellow-white thymic mass was found at necropsy of a two-year-old female cynomolgus macaque from a four-week, repeat-dose toxicity and immunogenicity study. Microscopically, the mass was multilobular and well encapsulated, surrounded by a thick connective tissue capsule, and composed of dense sheets of elongate or spindle-shaped cells and large cystic cavities separated by thick connective tissue stroma. Normal thymus was adjacent to the mass, but it was compressed. Within the mass were abundant interspersed Hassall’s corpuscles; individual and small clusters of mature, small lymphocytes; scattered eosinophils; large areas of necrosis; focal mineralization; and cholesterol clefts. An interesting feature was the presence of large multinucleated giant cells, which varied widely in size and nuclear number. Immunohistochemical staining for two lymphocyte markers and two structural proteins confirmed the identity of the neoplastic spindle cells and other cellular components. There was no evidence of vascular invasion or metastasis. Features of the thymoma indicated it was a pre-existing condition and not treatment related.