ECTOPIC MAMMARY TISSUE IN A BLACK GOAT

This report describes ectopia of mammary tissue in a black Iraqi female goat. The ectopic tissue was in the form of two subcutaneous masses, one on either side of the vulval opening. Surgical excision of the masses was performed. Grossly, the excised tissues were lobular and contained milky fluid. Microscopically, each lobule consisted of alveoli, intralobular ducts and loose cellular connective tissue. Many of the alveoli were filled with amorphous pink material mixed with neutrophils. Spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells were noted in the walls of both the alveoli and the intralobular ducts. Each lobule was surrounded by a thick connective tissue capsule containing interlobular ducts and blood and lymph vessels. Lactiferous ducts and an external skin opening were not seen. These results indicated an ectopic mammary tissue. This report may well be one of the extremely rare reports of ectopia of the mammary tissue.