>... last night wookie, a week after being fixed and descented, died
>suddenly.
>
>the vet wants to examine him to get some answers
>
> wookie 07/16/04 to 04/14/05
>
> a real crusher
>
> bob in phoenix
 
Hello All
 
Wookie had a large growth on his spleen that rupured and he bled out
internally.
 
In young ferrets usually undetectable until they die
 
bummer
 
bob in phoenix
 
 
Types of lymphosarcoma
 
First, let's take a look at the varied forms that lymphosarcoma can take.
There are basically two clinical presentations of lymphosarcoma in the
ferret - a rapidly progressive lymphoblastic form which is most common in
ferrets under 2 years of age, and a more chronic lymphocytic form which
affects ferrets 5-7 years of age.
 
The "classic" form of lymphosarcoma, which causes marked enlargement of
the peripheral nodes, is seen in older animals and has the more prolonged
course of the two syndromes.  In this disease, an infiltrate of small
mature lymphocytes expands the peripheral and mesenteric nodes,
eventually effacing nodal architecture.  Late in the course of disease,
neoplastic lymphocytes infiltrate visceral organs (including the liver,
kidney, lungs, and spleen) resulting in organ failure and death.  This
disease is usually insidious, resulting in little clinical debility
until extensive infiltration of visceral organs has occurred.
 
The lymphoblastic form [also called juvenile lymphosarcoma
<http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/lymph.html#juvenile> ], which
affects ferrets from one to two years, is quite different.  In this
disease, large immature lymphocytes quickly infiltrate the viscera,
including the thymus, spleen, liver, and many other organs.  Little
to no lymph node replacement is seen in these cases, a finding which
results in a high rate of misdiagnosis by clinicians without extensive
ferret experience.  This form can take a myriad of clinical appearances
depending on which organs are involved.  One of the more common
presentations results in dyspnea and is often diagnosed as cardiomyopathy
or pneumonia.  The lesion in this syndrome is actually a rapidly growing
thymic mass which compresses the lungs.  Less commonly, extensive hepatic
infiltration by neoplastic lymphocytes may result in marked hepatic
enzyme increases and icterus suggesting fulminant liver disease, and so
on.  Lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma should always be ruled out when dealing
with any serious illness in young ferrets.
[Posted in FML issue 4849]