title: Thoracic vertebral chordoma in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).
abstract: A castrated adult male 1.0-kg domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was referred for evaluation of a mass of >5 mo duration that was associated with the thoracic spine. The ferret had motor dysfunction and no conscious proprioception or pain perception in either hind limb. Segmental reflexes were present. Survey radiography, myelography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass involving the ninth and 10 thoracic vertebrae and compressing the spinal cord. Decompressive surgery was performed, but clinical signs persisted. A diagnosis of chordoma was made using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This is the first reported case of a chordoma involving the thoracic vertebrae in a domestic ferret.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0126, USA.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Terrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002817:Chordoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005289:Ferrets; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009192:Myelography / Q000662:veterinary; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae