Message Number: SG15253 | New FHL Archives Search
From: ksimcich@comcast.net
Date: 2005-08-30 03:02:23 UTC
Subject: Diagnosis of "Haired Skin: Preputial Adenocarcinoma"
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3199106.1125373583166.JavaMail.nobody@strontium.smartgroups.com>

On 7/23/05 my vet noticed a mass on the prepuce of my 5 year old neutered male
ferret, D'Artagnan. A needle biopsy was taken and cytology performed was
suggestive of an adenoma.

With the exception of the below noted high/lows, all results of his 8/15/05 pre-
anesthetic panel and CBC [Chemistry and Hematology] were within their respective
reference ranges:
ALT - High at 144 U/L (Reference range 12 - 130)
NEU - Low at 2.32 K/uL (Reference range 2.50 - 12.50)
HCT - High at 46.2% (Reference range 30.0 - 45.0)
HGB - High at 16.7 g/dL (Reference range 9.0 - 15.1)
RDW - Low at 16.6% (Reference range 17.3 - 22.0)

That same day, 8/15/05, D'Artagnan's vet performed a lumpectomy, excising the
mass from the prepuce and submitted it for histopathology. The diagnosis on the
pathology report came back as Preputial Adenocarcinoma. (If any are interested in
the specific microscopic results of the Pathology Report I can scan a copy of it into
my computer and email it to them). The tumor was indicated being "present at deep
and lateral borders" (no clear margins). The recommended course of treatment for
D'Artagnan is wide surgical excision of the remaining tumor mass and evaluation of
draining lymph nodes. In order for D'Artagnan's vet to do this (wide surgical
excision of the remaining tumor mass), a perineal urethostomy (PU) is indicated.

My request to the moderators of the FHL, and the ferret community at large, is to
ask for your experiences with either performing a PU on a ferret with an underlying
diagnosis of apocrine gland adenocarcinoma, and/or to those of you owned by a
ferret, what your experiences have been with your ferret who had this kind of cancer
and/or PU surgery.

Thank you,
Kim Simcich