An abattoir study of bovine neoplasms with particular reference to ocular squamous cell carcinoma in Canada.

An abattoir survey of bovine neoplasms in Alberta, Canada was carried out during 1976/77. A general incidence of 2.8 neoplastic cases per 1000 cattle slaughtered was established. Ocular squamous cell carcinoma (cancer eye) was the most common tumour encountered during this period. A second survey confined to cancer eye lesions revealed an incidence in slaughtered cattle 0 . 92 per cent. Fifty regional parotid lymph nodes draining invasive types of ocular squamous cell carcinomas were examined macroscopically and microscopically for evidence of tumour spread. In 8 per cent, the gross and microscopic examinations did not correlate.