Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ are tumours of the uterine lining. The risk of these tumours increases with the age of the animal, and they are particularly common in rabbits!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
As mentioned, this condition is most commonly seen in rabbits. In fact, it is the most common tumour of female rabbits. More than 50% of rabbits over 3 years of age will have this tumour!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Like many cancers, the exact cause is unknown. However, it is thought that high levels of ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง, the major hormone in non-pregnant animals, may contribute to development of this tumour.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
These tumours are particularly aggressive, and often ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ (spread) to other organs. In particular, it likes to spread to the lugs, liver and ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฆ (lining surfaces of the abdomen). They can also interfere with the rabbitโs ability to become pregnant and maintain a pregnancy.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Often, the tumour can be felt when palpating the rabbitโs abdomen. The mass or masses can often be seen on X-rays and ultrasound as well.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Treatment is often difficult, due to the aggressive behaviour of these tumours. Often, by the time the tumour is detected, the tumour has already spread. If caught early, ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ (โspayโ) is the treatment of choice. Similarly, the best method of prevention is spaying any female rabbits that will not be used for breeding.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Lumpy uteruses with uterine adenocarcinoma!
5) What a section of these uteruses might look like. Normally, you should see an empty ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง (central space), but in this case the lumen is compressed by the tumour.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Terio, KA, McAloose, D, St. Leger, J. Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. 2018.
Photos 1-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Hoenerhoff, Reyes-Gomez, Jennings, King, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
