1. Digger 5 year old male neutered domestic ferret Case #: N07-648 Presenter: Travis Heskett, DVM Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

2. History Presented to referring veterinarian for depression and hind limb weakness –Referring veterinarian had initially been concerned about insulinoma –Bloodwork WNL –Mass palpated at the base of the skull –Radiographs showed large osteoproliferative cervical vertebral lesion Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

3. CT Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

5. Additional diagnostics Aspirate cytology –Malignant cells of epithelial origin Neurology consult –Grave prognosis Euthanasia 1000x Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

6. Gross Findings--Dorsal Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

7. Gross Findings--Ventral Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

8. Histology Infiltration of the neoplasm into musculature overlying skull and into the skull Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

9. Histology Neoplasm infiltrating vertebral column with isolated neoplastic nodules within spinal canal Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

10. Histology Production of new cartilage and bone by the neoplasm and invasion and remodeling of existing bone Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

12. Immunohistochemistry Cytokeratin Vimentin Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

13. CNS Compression Myelencephalon with moderate to marked axonal degeneration Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

14. CNS Compression Compression of the spinal cord with moderate axonal degeneration Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

15. Final Anatomic Diagnosis Chordoma—caudodorsal skull in occipital and atlanto-occipital region with invasion into the calavarium, C1&C2, resulting in: –Compression of cerebellum, brainstem, and cervical spinal cord with moderate to marked axonal degeneration and minimal neuronal degeneration Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

16. Ferret Chordomas 3-6 years of age Typically occur at the tip of the tail beyond the last vertebral segment Do not appear attached to preexisting bone Slow growing, do not metastasize Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

17. AFIP website Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

18. Microscopic Appearance Classic appearance is that of physaliferous cells surrounding cartilage with a central core of bone Immunoreactive to both cytokeratin and vimentin The origin of the bone and cartilage is controversial, but may arise from notocord differentiation within the neoplasm AFIP website Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

19. Chordomas Arise from the remnants of the fetal notocord Anywhere along the axial skeleton Chordomas have also been reported in cervical and thoracic vertebrae of ferrets Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

20. Chordomas in other species Also been reported in rats, mink, dogs, cats, and humans In humans, they comprise approximately 1-4% of malignant osseous tumors. In humans, 50% are present in the sacrococcygeal region, 25% in the sphenooccipital region, with the remainder arising in the vertebral axis. Slow growing and locally invasive 30% metastasize Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

21. Special thanks to: Dr. Lisa Farina, pathologist Dr. David Taylor, advisor Histology service at UF CVM Fellow residents Questions??? Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only