Surgical removal of a sex-hormone dependant vaginal fibroleiomyosarcoma in a female ferret: a case report.

Abstract

peer reviewedWhile vaginal smooth muscle tumours have been well described in the dog, they have never been reported in the ferret. A four-year-old intact jill was presented for a mass protruding from the vulva for weeks. The owner reported dysorexia and weight loss unresponsive to NSAIDs and antibiotics. At clinical examination, the ferret was cachectic and presented an alopecia of the tail. A dorsal pediculated white firm mass protruded from a swollen vulva with a purulent discharge. 100UI of hCG were administered to interrupt the oestrus. Three weeks later, she had regained weight, had a better coat, the vulva had reduced in size, but the mass was still present. Under general anaesthesia, the mass was resected through an episiotomy, delicate dissection between the urethral opening and the mass and a ligature around the mass’ pedicle. An ovariohysterectomy was performed. Complete healing of the wounds was observed two weeks later. Unfortunately, no long-term follow-up was available. A low grade fibroleiomyosarcoma, with incomplete surgical excision was diagnosed based on histology and immunohistochemical marking for smooth muscle actin. Leiomyosarcoma have been described in the integument and in the abdominal cavity in the ferret but never in the vagina [1]. Further immunohistolabeling revealed that 80% and 25% of proliferative cells expressed progesterone and oestrogen receptors respectively. Leiomyomas are strongly hormonally dependant and the most frequent vaginal neoplasms in the bitch, and sterilization is considered prophylactic and prevents recurrence if performed at the time of excision of the vaginal mass [2]. Likewise, benefits from sterilization of the jill may be suspected in cases of hormonally dependant vaginal tumours. This is the first report of a sex-hormone dependant vaginal smooth cell tumour in a ferret and its surgical removal. [1] Avallone G, Forlani A, Tecilla M, et al. Neoplastic diseases in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in Italy: classification and tissue distribution of 856 cases (2000-2010). BMC Vet Res 2016;12:275. [2] Maxie MG. In: Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals. Sixth Edition. Vol. 3, Elsevier Inc 2015: 447-8