title: The use of megavoltage radiation therapy in the treatment of thymomas in rabbits: 19 cases.
abstract: An overall median survival time (MST) and prognostic factors in rabbits with thymomas treated with megavoltage radiation therapy (RT) were determined in this multi-institutional retrospective case analysis. Medical records for 19 rabbits with suspected or confirmed thymomas treated with RT were evaluated for data including signalment, haematological and serum biochemistry abnormalities, presence of pleural effusion, radiation plan, body weight, total radiation dose and institution administering RT. Statistical significance of these factors related to overall survival was assessed. An overall MST for all 19 rabbits was 313 days; exclusion of 3 rabbits that died acutely during the first 14 days of RT yielded a MST of 727 days. The only factor associated with a significantly decreased survival time was having a body weight lower than mean body weight of 1.57 kg. Radiation treatment-associated complications were infrequent and included radiation-induced myocardial failure, radiation pneumonitis and alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, San Francisco, CA, USA. kathyandresdvm@gmail.com
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Siedlecki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Morrisey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Quesenberry
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011817:Rabbits; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013945:Thymoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium