Pathology on the brain, by Maayan Melamed

Our Passover break was somewhat in the middle of finals such that I studied (or pretended to a bit… I may have done some passive internet lecture listening) for pathology for a few days over vacation. I did get a day off with my family to visit the safari/zoo in Ramat Gan, and got to spend some time with the baboons. Now, as you can see here, these baboons have a bit of a posterior problem, and I had to wonder what the pathology was. Was it hyperplasia? Dysplasia? Cancer? At least half of these baboons had this problem, was there some sort of carcinogen in the baboon’s water in Ramat Gan that caused them to all be horribly afflicted?

A few days later we had a Q&A/review session for pathology, and I couldn’t help but send the professor an email with the picture and ask:

from Maayan to date Sat, Apr 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM subject Question for review session mailed-by gmail.com

hide details Apr 30

Hi Dr.,

I know we generally deal with human pathology but I was at the safari in Ramat Gan earlier today and couldn't help but wonder what on earth is wrong with these baboons. Some sort of hyperplasia?

Thanks,
Maayan

The professor was kind enough to respond:

from   to Maayan Melamed date Sat, Apr 30, 2011 at 10:57 PM subject Re: Question for review session mailed-by inter.net.il Important mainly because it was sent directly to you.

hide details Apr 30

Maayan,
Either hyperplasia or even a tumor. Most likely the former as baboons tend to have increased tissue growth in that area and is worse when inflamed.
 Dr

He made sure that everyone in the review session got the pertinent information. These are some of the great global applications we get here at MSIH. - Maayan Melamed, July blogger of the month