Presumptive paraneoplastic exfoliative dermatitis in four domestic rabbits

• Published in: Veterinary record 2013-02, Vol.172 (6), p.155-155
• Main Authors: Prélaud, A. Rostaher, Lee, A. Jassies-van der, Mueller, R. S., Zeeland, Y. R. A. van, Bettenay, S., Majzoub, M., Zenker, I., Hein, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal euthanasia; Animals; Anorexia; Baldness; Chemotherapy; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Exfoliative - diagnosis; Dermatitis, Exfoliative - veterinary; Dermatology; Dermatopathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Heart; Histopathology; Lymphocytes; Male; Oncology; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - diagnosis; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - veterinary; Rabbits; Radiation therapy; Skin; Ultrasonic imaging; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.101226

Case 1 Case 2 Case 3* Case 4 Signalment 7.5 years, male castrated, 1.4 kg 6 years, male castrated, 2.6 kg 4 years, male castrated, 1.4 kg 6 years, female, intact, 974 g Clinical signs Cachexia, depression Cachexia, depression, nasal discharge, dyspnoea Initially none; finally anorexia and dyspnoea Initially none; finally dyspnoea Dermatological signs Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, follicular casts and seborrhea Multifocal alopecia, erythema, scaling, follicular casts and crusting Histological description skin Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic mural folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Orthokeratosis, lymphocytic exocytosis, lymphocytic mural and interface folliculitis, absent sebaceous glands Thoracic radiograph Mass in anterior mediastinum Mass in anterior mediastinum No mass on initial exam, not repeated radiographs Mass in anterior mediastinum Thoracic ultrasound Cystic structures within mass located cranial to base of the heart Cystic structures within mass located cranial to base of the heart Not performed Non-cystic mass located cranial to base of the heart Cytological description mass Predominantly lymphoblasts with scattered eosinophils and macrophages Predominantly small lymphocytes and few activated macrophages Not performed Lymphocytes and clusters of spindle cells Histological description mass Consistent with lymphoma: large number of lymphoblasts with signs of atypia Consistent with thymoma: predominantly polygonal epithelial cells intermingled with small lymphocytes Consistent with thymoma: predominantly polygonal epithelial cells intermingled with small lymphocytes Not performed Treatment Topical Oil soak, shampoo, aloe vera spray Oil spray (1:100 with water), shampoo Propylene glycol Propylene glycol Systemic Outcome Essential fatty acids Complete resolution within 5 months, euthanasia after 8 months EFA Worsening, euthanasia after 7 months Cyclosporine, Mygliol 812[dagger], EFA Complete resolution within 2 months, euthanasia after 14 months Cyclosporine, Mygliol 812[dagger], EFA Worsening, euthanasia after 5 months *This case has partly been described previously (Jassies-van der Lee and others 2009) [dagger