From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2001-10-09 07:46:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] chordoma remouval
On Mon, 8 Oct 2001, Caterina Venturelli wrote:
> I am new to the list, so first of all, Hello to everybody! My ferret
> Gigio is going to be under surgery this friday to have a chordoma
> removed from the tip of his tail. At the moment the chordoma is less
> than one centimeter big. Is it really necessary to remove the
> vertabrate under the tumor as well as the previous vertebrate
> apparently non yet invaded by the tumor?
Welcome to the list! Haven't seen this one get picked up yet, so here
goes.
Yes, I do believe it is generally thought to be the best practice to take
the next healthy vertebrae up from the chordoma. These tumors are locally
pretty invasive and move into the tissues nearby, and this is the best way
to be sure that all of it is removed. Gigio's is at the tip of his tail,
so it won't really be a significantly shorter tail with that extra one
removed - ferret vertebrae are really small. It'll save him a second
surgery later that would be needed if the whole thing isn't removed the
first time. I've never heard of one coming back on the tail tip once
removed.
My big old sweet guy Willard had a chordoma removed from down near the
*base* of his tail. My vet did take the healthy vert in front of it, and
he was left with a tiny, cute stub. He was extremely handsome. :-)
Good luck!
-Pam S.