Successful treatment of a retrobulbar adenocarcinoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

THE first neoplasm documented in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), a cutaneous carcinoma, was reported in 1950 (Symmers and Thomson 1950). Neoplasia was initially reported rarely in ferrets (Li and Fox 1998), but is currently recognised as a common condition, particularly in the USA (Williams and Weiss 2003). In a study of 547 ferret neoplasms submitted to the Veterinary Medical Data Base at Purdue University, neoplasia related to the eye and adnexa represented less than 1 per cent of all samples (Li and others 1998). There is little published information on the histological morphology, prognosis or life expectancy of ferrets with neoplasia of the eye, adnexa or orbit. This short communication describes the diagnosis and successful treatment of a retrobulbar adenocarcinoma in a ferret with exeneration, surgical reduction and palliative Cobalt-60 radiation therapy. A four-year-old, neutered male domestic ferret presented to the

Ophthalmologic Diseases in Small Pet Mammals

“…Lymphosarcoma is a common disease in ferrets, and although orbital involvement has been reported in only two ferrets, 41 it is occasionally seen clinically. Retrobulbar adenocarcinoma has been reported in one ferret, 40 and we have seen this clinically as a rare cause of unilateral exopthalmos (A. van der Woerdt, K. Quesenberry, personal communication, 2006). Ophthalmic examination reveals unilateral or bilateral exophthalmos, decreased retropulsion of the globe, and protrusion of the third eyelid.…”

“…40 Zygomatic salivary gland mucocele is another reported cause of exophthalmos in ferrets. Cytologic examination of a sample from the retrobulbar area obtained by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration can confirm the diagnosis of neoplasia.…”

Ocular Examination and Corneal Surface Disease in the Ferret

“…After identification of a corneal ulcer, care should be taken to ensure the eye is not exophthalmic given that exposure keratitis secondary to an orbital mass effect has been reported. 18 Treatment of superficial corneal ulceration includes topical, broad-spectrum, antimicrobial agents. If the cornea appears infiltrated or has a hazy yellow or malacic appearance, cytologic evaluation and/or culture is indicated.…”