Mandibular squamous cell carcinoma in a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)

Adam D Naylor, Linda R Morrison, Simon J Girling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

  A 9-yr-old, entire female captive rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis) was presented with a 1-wk history of sialorrhea. On clinical examination, a mass was identified, encompassing the rostral mandible and intermandibular area, with associated mucosal ulceration, marked gingival recession, and loosening or loss of adjacent teeth. Skull radiography and cytology of fine-needle aspirates of the mass were suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. Based on a suspected poor prognosis, the animal was humanely euthanized. Postmortem histological examination of samples confirmed a diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma with invasion of mandibular bone. Neoplasia is uncommonly reported in hyraxes, which has led to the assumption that they may share mechanisms of cancer resistance with elephants, their closest extant relatives. This is the first report of squamous cell carcinoma in this species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)489-492
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2018

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Mandibular tumor
  • oral tumor
  • Procavia capensis
  • Rock hyrax
  • squamous cell carcinoma

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