title: Lumbar osteosarcoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger).
abstract: An 11-year-old male chinchilla was presented for investigation of progressive weight loss, apathy, anorexia, changes in faecal quality and alopecia on the tip of the tail. On clinical examination, a stiffness of the back legs was noted. Abdominal palpation revealed a hard immobile, irregular structure in the region of the last lumbar vertebrae. Subsequent radiography and ultrasonography suggested the presence of neoplasia. The following day the chinchilla was showing hindlimb paralysis, and there was severe self-trauma to the distal 5 cm of the tail. In view of the rapid clinical deterioration, the chinchilla was euthanased with the owner's consent. Macroscopic examination supported the clinical suspicion of neoplasia. Histopathological examination revealed a reactive osteoblastic osteosarcoma. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of osteosarcoma in chinchillas.
authors.affiliation: Section of Diagnostic Imaging and Radio-Oncology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simova-Curd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitzl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pospischil
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography