Diagnosis and treatment of metastatic uterine lymphoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Abstract

A 4‐year‐old, entire, female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) presented to an emergency veterinary hospital for laboured breathing, lethargy and hyporexia. Physical exam findings and diagnostic imaging were supportive of uterine disease. An ovariohysterectomy was performed, and histopathology diagnosed incompletely resected uterine lymphoma. A rotating outpatient chemotherapy protocol containing oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg), subcutaneous L‐asparaginase (400 iu/kg), oral cyclophosphamide (200 mg/m2) and subcutaneous cytosine arabinoside (50 mg/kg) was initiated. The patient tolerated chemotherapeutics well based on normal behaviour, appetite, exam findings and serial bloodwork values. One hundred two days after initial presentation, the patient was euthanased due to a decline in clinical condition. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed metastasis of lymphoma to the brain, mediastinum, mesentery, liver and spleen. No evidence of organ damage due to chemotherapeutics was noted histologically. Postmortem immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma. Further studies are needed to guide chemotherapeutic dosing and treatment of lymphoma in chinchillas.