Abstract
Neoplasia is a common finding in African pygmy hedgehogs. Both skeletal and extraskeletal osteosarcomas have been previously reported in this species, but the only reported case of appendicular osteosarcoma was diagnosed postmortem. A 3-year-old intact female African pygmy hedgehog presented with a 10-day history of left foreleg swelling and lameness. Radiographs performed by the referring veterinarian confirmed the presence of a lytic lesion affecting the distal radius. A whole-body computed tomography scan was performed and confirmed a marked osteolytic lesion affecting the distal radius, which was consistent with bone neoplasia, however osteomyelitis could not be excluded. There was no evidence of thoracic or abdominal metastasis. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the lesion yielded a nondiagnostic sample. The affected forelimb was amputated and along with the axillary lymph node, was submitted for histological analysis which confirmed a well differentiated osteosarcoma within the distal radius. The patient made a full recovery with no complications and remained disease free at the time of writing, 12 months after presentation. Osteosarcoma is rarely diagnosed antemortem in African pygmy hedgehogs. This case describes the management, diagnostic techniques, and successful treatment of an osteosarcoma affecting the distal radius by forelimb amputation.
Published Version
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