Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rabbit with bone-destroying apocrine gland cancer causing leg lameness
By Carolina S. Ferreira et al.·Published in Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira·2025·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Apocrine adenocarcinoma in Oryctolagus cuniculus (domestic rabbit) with osteolysis: case report
- Species:
- rabbit
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old female domestic rabbit was brought in for lameness in her left back leg, which got worse over seven months until she could no longer use it. The vet found changes in the bone structure through X-rays and performed a biopsy, which revealed a malignant tumor called apocrine adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer is rare in rabbits and was causing damage to the bone and surrounding tissue. The rabbit's treatment plan would depend on the specific findings and the vet's recommendations, but this case highlights a serious condition that can affect rabbits.
People also search for: rabbit limping · domestic rabbit cancer treatment · apocrine adenocarcinoma in rabbits
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Apocrine adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor arising from the apocrine gland. It’s well-reported in dogs, uncommon in cats, and rarely described in other species. A 4-year-old female domestic rabbit with lameness in the left pelvic limb, which progressed to loss of function over seven months, was treated in a medical routine. Upon palpation of the affected region, the rabbit presented alertness without exhibiting painful sensitivity. Radiographic imaging revealed pronounced alterations in the bone trabeculae of the left femur, accompanied by areas of corticomedullary osteolysis. A biopsy from the left femur was performed for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. The morphological diagnosis comprises apocrine adenocarcinoma. This report aims to present what seems to be the first worldwide case of apocrine adenocarcinoma invading muscle tissue and causing bone lysis in the joint region in an Oryctolagus cuniculus.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-5150-pvb-7528