Over the past nine years, CMMC has recovered nine moribund California sea
lions, suffering from primary and secondary complications due to metastatic, transitional cell
carcinoma. Of the nine animals, five were male and four were female. All were sexually mature
except one subadult male. The animals were found beached along Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo
and Sonoma County beaches. General physical appearances included enlarged or swollen hind
flippers, abdominal distention, and prolapsed rectum. Four were considered under-weight, five
were emaciated. All had a tumor located dorsocaudally between the kidneys. The primary tumor
size ranged from 18cm to 3.0cm in length and 15 cm. to 0.5 cm in width. Sites of metastases
varied but included lymph nodes, lung, liver, adrenal, spleen, ovaries, uterus, kidney,
pancreas, bladder, mediastinum, peritoneum, and the visceral surfaces of the stomach and ilium.
One specific site of origin for the cancer could not be determined. It is speculated that either
one or more of the following are possible: bladder, ureter, adrenal, or lymph node.