title: Solitary dermal leiomyosarcomas in 12 ferrets.
abstract: Twelve 3-6-year-old ferrets (8 males, 3 females, 1 unknown) were presented with single cutaneous nodules. These dermal tumors were characterized histologically by nodular proliferation of neoplastic smooth muscle fibers with marked anisokaryosis and a mitotic rate of >2 mitoses per 10 high-power fields. Neoplastic cells stained strongly for vimentin in all tumors and for smooth muscle actin and desmin in all but 1 tumor. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of piloleiomyosarcoma for these tumors. Excision was curative in all animals available for follow-up. However, 3 of 5 animals developed adrenal disease within 7 months after removal of the dermal leiomyosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Veterinary Services, West Sacramento, CA 95625, USA.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mikaelian
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Garner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*