A Case of Osteosarcoma in a Hedgehog with Amputation

Abstract

We describe a case of a 2‐year-old female hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) with an irregular, hard mass surrounding most of the left forelimb. Radiographs showed osteolysis of the radius and ulna. The mass showed decreased radiolucency. We amputated the limb from the scapula and performed a pathological examination, which revealed proliferation of polygonal and spindle-shaped tumor cells with severe destruction of the proximal ulna. The tumor cells produced osteoid and were accompanied by stromal tissue that was positive for periodate, positive for Alcian blue, and stained blue with Masson's trichrome. The cells were also positive for vimentin and S-100. Based on these findings, this case was diagnosed as osteosarcoma of the extremity. The postoperative course was uneventful, but on postoperative day 297, X-ray examination revealed lung metastases. The hedgehog died on postoperative day 312, and a pathological autopsy confirmed lung metastasis of osteosarcoma. In this case, a good survival time of 10 months postoperatively was obtained, and we consider that amputation can be an effective treatment for osteosarcoma of the limbs of hedgehogs.