Muntjac - ganglion style growth

[Tom_Ov]

Just wondered if anyone had ideas on this...

Shot a muntjac doe yesterday. Normal behaviour pre shot, then when approached, beast had a visible growth on the flank which was bulging through the skin. Its actually a grapefruit sized and shaped ball of tough white flesh, inside the body cavity, in front of the haunches, not connected to the digestive system in any way. Outer side of ball attached to flank in front of haunch. No pus, smell etc. Definitely not a retained foetus. No external sign of injury, deer in good condition, all lymph nodes fine.

Keeper friend suggested I mince the growth, which won't be happening but will prob use rest of carcass for personal consumption on basis it all looks fine and appears to be as a result of trauma, not disease.

Interested in theories of what could have caused it as not something I've come across before.

 

[oxfordshirestalker]

Have you got any pictures? Sounds interesting!

 

[Tom_Ov]

Have you got any pictures? Sounds interesting!

I'll try and get some when I pop out to the chiller in a sec, but it won't be particularly easy to photograph!

 

[Tom_Ov]

 

[Andyquadra]

@Buchan

 

[Buchan]

Curious. Those edges look like the abdominal muscle is torn, as can happen in an abdominal rupture form eg road collision. Normally thought they have the gut contents in there. So I'm thinking this is an abscess and I'd be very careful skinning it, in case you contaminate the area. Does it feel solid or as if it has fluid in it? Hm, you've said tough, so I take it that it's solid.
I'd skin and cut into it - doing the latter outside, on a plastic sheet, with a mask on, just in case if goes "pop"!

 

[Tom_Ov]

Thanks @Buchan

It's pretty solid - will admit I did give it an exploratory poke with a knife in the field after gralloching and nothing ensued, save a small amount of clear fluid. Will see what happens when I skin it.

 

[75]

Interesting. I'd definitely be taking a bit of care over skinning it and taking a few photos along the way - just to help Buchan with his diagnosis! I find these sort of threads really helpful.

 

[Tom_Ov]

Yes, there'll be some careful cuts...

 

[Tom_Ov]

A few pics after skinning...

No pus, just clear fluid around the growth.

Skinned and still in place

 

[Tom_Ov]

Detatched growth

 

[Tom_Ov]

Incised growth

 

[Tom_Ov]

Personally I'm betting on a glancing blow from a car but interested to hear other theories...

 

[Buchan]

I thikn that is as good a diagnosis as any, It's had the blow, formed a huge haematoma which has reorganised as fibrous tissue,

 

[paulbshooting]

Great Post, thanks for sharing. Everyday is a school day.

 

[JockStalk]

Mince it? I’d be busy next time that mate offers dinner

 

[T.eddie]

Out of curiosity and this may be covered in dsc1 which I've yet to do, what signs would point it out as a cancerous lump instead? And doesn't that condemn the carcass? I'd imagine it would but just interested

 

[Tom_Ov]

Mince it? I’d be busy next time that mate offers dinner

To be fair, it was firmly tongue in cheek!

 

[Buchan]

Out of curiosity and this may be covered in dsc1 which I've yet to do, what signs would point it out as a cancerous lump instead? And doesn't that condemn the carcass? I'd imagine it would but just interested

It did cross my mind, but when you look at the edges of the muscle, they look torn whereas a mass would merge more cleanly.
If it was me, I'd send a sample to a path lab. But I like things like this enough to think it cash well spent.

 

[T.eddie]

It did cross my mind, but when you look at the edges of the muscle, they look torn whereas a mass would merge more cleanly.
If it was me, I'd send a sample to a path lab. But I like things like this enough to think it cash well spent.

Thank you it's good to know for future reference appreciate the info