From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-01-04 09:53:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Ear problem
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., fhbythesea@a... wrote:
> I have a couple views of a ferret's ear that is here at the
shelter. We know
> she is approximately 4-6 years old, possibly adrenal, in decent
health. She
> presented with this purplish mass on her ear - at first I thought
it was a
> tick (she was a stray). Its actually based on the flap of the ear.
The vet
> drained it and said the fluid was all blood cells, but it quickly
refilled
> with fluid. I'm planning on having it removed as soon as I clear a
surgery
> day for her.
>
> Any ideas on what it might be? I was thinking a 'cauliflower' or
something
> caused by shaking her head?
Dear Lisa:
Can you send the sample to me? I would very much like to have it for
a number of reasons -
1) I suspect that it is a dermal hemangioma or hemangiosarcoma. We
are currently preparing a paper on these neoplasms in the ferret 0-
we have 14 (it's not a common thing) and 15 is always better than 14.
Hemagniosarcomas are low grade malignant tumors of blood vessles
which are usually very hemorrhagic and would give you an aspirate
such as you describe. These neoplasms, while they can be locally
invasve, have no metastatic potential, and complete surgical excision
is generally curative.
2) Your picture is excellent, and worth putting up on the site, but
only if he have a diagnosis to go along with it.
If you can, send via FedEx or some such - mail is currently still
messed up in Washington, - I am getting decontaminated letters and
packages which were mailed over two months ago!
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM