Coccygeal chordoma in a degu: case report and review of the literature. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sautier, Lucile; Guillier, David; Coste, Margaux; Servely, Jean-Luc; Pignon, Charly; Laloy, Eve; Donnelly, Thomas M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation. Volume 31:Number 1(2019:Jan.)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Caudectomy -- chordoma -- degus -- immunohistochemistry -- neoplasm -- Octodon degus -- tail; Veterinary medicine -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 636.0896075
• DOI: 10.1177/1040638718814584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6387

Abstract

An 8-y-old, intact female degu ( Octodon degu s) was presented with a slow-growing mass on the tail tip. The mass was completely removed by partial caudectomy. Histologically, the last coccygeal vertebra was replaced by a lobulated neoplasm composed of large clear polygonal cells embedded in a myxoid alcian blue–positive matrix with highly vacuolated cytoplasm (physaliferous cells) and intracytoplasmic periodic acid-Schiff–positive granules. The neoplasm exhibited the morphologic features of a "classic" chordoma of humans, which is 1 of 3 distinct chordoma subtypes. Immunohistochemistry revealed dual expression of cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and vimentin, consistent with a diagnosis of chordoma. Chordomas are uncommon slow-growing neoplasms in humans and animals, arising from notochordal remnants. Depending on their subtype and location, they can have a high local recurrence rate and metastatic risk. Chordoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue mass on the tail of a degu, similar to the clinical situation in ferrets.