From:
"kamccabe@ymail.com"
Date: 2010-09-05 03:46:36 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Mast cell tumor surgery
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "chelseybakerhauck" <chelseybakerhauck@...> wrote:
>
>
> My vet is inclined to remove all of these tumors as they appear and would like to do so now. I don't know whether I'm comfortable with that approach. If there is no sign of infection or signs that she's worrying the growth, is there any medical reason to remove it? (There was a little dried blood on the area this morning but no obvious trauma, e.g. chewing/licking.) I'm concerned that we could get into a never-ending cycle of surgeries. Is it warranted given the low/no risk of malignancy?
>
Risk of malignancy may be low but the risk does exist. I've had one with three malignant MCT's.
> Although I've had other ferrets w/mast cell tumors (all removed), I've never had a ferret develop multiples.
>
It's not at all uncommon to see more than one MCT, they tend to show in three's.
Karen McCabe
[Malignant mast cell tumors are far more
likely in other species and some labs and
vets unused to ferrets will assume that
ferrets are like dogs on this score when they
are not, so not all reports are reliable.
That said, there have been some malignant
mast cell tumors but vanishingly few, and
they tend to occur when the mast cell tumor
is internal rather than in the skin.
See:
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/Mast/mastcell.html
Of course, with mast cell tumors multiple
can happen in the same individual, so
malignant spread should not be the first
automatic thought of anyone.
-- Moderator]
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