From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-03-05 00:15:03 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Thyroid Tumor?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Karen McCabe" <cinnamon_sprite@...> wrote:
>
> My Ruca (6 year old female, spayed at 6 months of age) had surgery
> today to remove a mass from her throat. My vet says it was a thyroid
> tumor. I've never heard of this in ferrets, and neither has he. Has
> anyone else? I'm looking for info.
>
> (Note: Ruca is a Di Bachman/Hagerstown ferret, for anyone still
> following the health of those ferrets)
>
> Karen McCabe
> http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
>
No luck in the first places I checked so I went more widely.
http://www.vetpathology.org/cgi/content/full/37/3/278
The full article is at the location.
Here is a bit for you:
BEGIN QUOTE
C-Cell Carcinoma (Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma) Associated with Multiple Endocrine
Neoplasms in a Ferret (Mustela putorius)
J. G. Fox, C. A. Dangler, S. B. Snyder, M. J. Richard and J. P. Thilsted
Abstract
A firm, infiltrative mass was found in the thyroid region of an adult castrated male ferret
(Mustela putorius) presenting with vague signs of weight loss, minor inappetence, and
decreased activity. Efforts to surgically excise the tissue were unsuccessful, and the animal
was euthanatized. Gross and histopathologic evaluation revealed multiple endocrine
neoplasms, including C-cell carcinoma, adrenocortical adenoma, pheochromocytoma, and
endocrine tumor of the pancreas. This is the first descriptive account of a C-cell
carcinoma, also known as medullary thyroid carcinoma, in a ferret, although other
endocrine neoplasms in this species have been reported with some frequency. These
findings mimic features observed in human multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes.
END QUOTE
and the final paragraph reads:
BEGIN QUOTE
The observed similarities between the manifested neoplasms in this ferret and MEN
syndromes in humans are tantalizing but incomplete. The presence or absence of other
MEN-associated neuroendocrine lesions, such as pituitary tumor, parathyroid cell
adenoma, or mucosal neuromas, which would support further MEN subclassification,
could not be confirmed in this ferret. Likewise, the presence of a RET or mos proto-
oncogene mutation or mutation in the MEN-I gene in this ferret has not been established.
It is hoped that this report will stimulate further studies to elucidate whether the ferret
has a heritable form of MEN comparable to that documented in humans.
END QUOTE
Remember that since then MEN (Multiple Endocrinological Neoplasia, a genetic variation)
HAS been found in ferrets by a veterinary research team at UC Davis which is being led by
Dr. Michelle Hawkins. Further details on that research may be made public this year,
depending on the progress of the work.
Dr. Bob Hawkins at U Pitt has found another potential genetic contributor: p53.
Variations make it difficult for the body to fight tumors.
Also:
BEGIN QUOTE
Vet Clin Pathol. 2005 Dec;34(4):405-8.Links
Thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma in a ferret.
Wills TB, Bohn AA, Finch NP, Harris SP, Caplazi P.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
A 5-year-old male castrated ferret was presented to the Washington State University
College of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of progressive hair loss and a large, rapidly
growing ventral neck mass. The patient had been diagnosed previously with an
insulinoma, which was managed medically. Fine-needle aspirates of the neck mass were
performed. The cytologic results were most consistent with epithelial neoplasia, likely a
carcinoma; thyroid origin was considered likely based on tumor location and cell
morphology. The tumor grew rapidly, and the owners elected euthanasia 1 week after
examination. At necropsy, a circumscribed, ovoid mass disrupted the right cervical
musculature next to the right lobe of the thyroid gland. Histopathologic evaluation
revealed an infiltrative mass consisting of cuboidal cells arranged in solid sheets and
irregular follicles enclosing colloid. The cells were large, with prominent nucleoli, and had
a high mitotic rate. The histopathologic diagnosis was consistent with thyroid follicular
adenocarcinoma. Immunochemical findings confirmed thyroglobulin production by
neoplastic cells, but to a lesser extent than in normal ferret thyroid tissue. To our
knowledge, this is the first case of thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma to be reported in a
ferret, with only 1 other case of thyroid carcinoma, a C-cell carcinoma, described
previously.
PMID: 16270269 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
END QUOTE
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
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