A castrated adult male 1.0-kg domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was referred for evaluation of a mass of >5 mo duration that was associated with the thoracic spine. The ferret had motor dysfunction and no conscious proprioception or pain perception in either hind limb. Segmental reflexes were present. Survey radiography, myelography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass involving the ninth and 10 thoracic vertebrae and compressing the spinal cord. Decompressive surgery was performed, but clinical signs persisted. A diagnosis of chordoma was made using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This is the first reported case of a chordoma involving the thoracic vertebrae in a domestic ferret.
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1 March 2000
THORACIC VERTEBRAL CHORDOMA IN A DOMESTIC FERRET (MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO)
Geoffrey W. Pye,
R. Avery Bennett,
Gregory D. Roberts,
Scott P. Terrell
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 31 • No. 1
March 2000
Vol. 31 • No. 1
March 2000
domestic ferret
immunohistochemistry
Mustela putorius furo
neoplasia
thoracic chordoma