title: Neoplastic diseases in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in Italy: classification and tissue distribution of 856 cases (2000-2010).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and tissue distribution of neoplasms in Italian ferrets, compared to the epidemiological data previously reported in USA and Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Signalment and diagnoses of pathological submissions received between 2000 and 2010 were searched; cases with the diagnosis of neoplasm were selected and original sections reviewed to confirm the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine-hundred and ten samples were retrieved, 690 of which included at least one tumour for a total of 856 tumours. Ferrets with multiple neoplasms were 134 (19.4%). Median age was 5 years, and F/M ratio was 0.99. Endocrine neoplasms were the most common. Other frequent tumours were cutaneous mast cell tumours, sebaceous tumours, and lymphomas. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were consistently associated with sebaceous tumours. Twenty-four abdominal spindle cell tumours with an undefined origin were observed. Lymphomas and islet cell tumours had a lower incidence compared with previous extra-European studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemiological information on ferret tumours derives from extra-European countries, mostly USA and Japan. In these countries similar distributions with minor discrepancies have been reported. Compared to previous reports, adrenal tumours were more frequent than pancreatic islet cell neoplasms, and a higher number of mesenchymal neoplasms arising from the adrenal capsule was noted. An unusual association between SCC and sebaceous gland neoplasms and a high number of intrabdominal spindle cell neoplasms with unclear primary origin were noted and grants further investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tissue distribution of tumours recorded in this study paralleled previous findings in ferrets from USA and Japan. Some differences have been noted in the frequency of lymphoma, adrenal mesenchymal tumours and cutaneous tumours. Some tumours that are among the most common in other species seem to be uncommon in ferrets and are characterized by distinctive predilection sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Ltd. Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7DN, UK.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20100, Milan, Italy. marco.tecilla@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1214-8155
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tecilla
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories Ltd. Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7DN, UK.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.affiliation: Equipe recherche UPSP ICE 2011-03-101: Oncology, and Laboratoire de Pathologie et Morphologie Clinique, Vetagro-sup, France.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belluco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Av, Box 270, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Sara Francesca
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Santagostino
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20100, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.affiliation: Private practicioner, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Kiumars
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khadivi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20100, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roccabianca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Ferret; Neoplastic diseases; Tumours