title: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment of cutaneous lymphoma in a ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis).
abstract: A 15-year-old female ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) was presented with an isolated ulcerated, nonhealing lesion on the lateral thorax. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were diagnostic for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with incomplete excision. Oral chemotherapy with CCNU (lomustine) resulted in clinical remission that lasted 255 days, with no appreciable toxicity. Tumor recurrence was treated with radiation therapy, which resulted in 120 additional days of clinical remission. Subsequently, the tumor developed at a distant site and the cuscus was humanely euthanized. A slight decrease in appetite early in disease progression was the only adverse effect noted throughout the treatment period. Oral, minimally invasive chemotherapy, and adjunct radiation therapy were viable treatment options for this ground cuscus and should be considered for treatment of neoplasia in other nontraditional species.
authors.affiliation: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Drive, Powell, Ohio 43065, USA. andreag@oaklandzoo.org
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goodnight
authors.forename: C Guillermo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrie
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008130:Lomustine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D048329:Phalangeridae; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008130:Lomustine