PANCREATIC BETA-CELL TURNER IN FERRETS - 20 CASES (1986-1994)

Objective-To characterize survival times, disease-free intervals, and prognostic variables in ferrets with pancreatic beta cell neoplasia. D esign-Retrospective study. Animals-20 ferrets with histologically conf irmed pancreatic beta cell tumors. Procedure-Medical records of ferret s with pancreatic beta cell tumors were reviewed. Variables such as ag e, sex, duration of clinical signs, existence of other neoplasia, sing le versus multiple masses In the pancreas, benign or malignant histolo gic features, and the type of treatment used at redevelopment of clini cal signs were examined to determine their relationship to survival ti mes and disease-free intervals. Results-Duration of clinical signs pri or to diagnosis and initial surgery was inversely correlated with surv ival time and disease-free interval. Overall median survival time for all ferrets with pancreatic beta cell tumors was 483 days. Median dise ase-free interval for ferrets that had abdominal surgery for pancreati c beta cell tumor removal was 240 days. Distant tumor metastasis was n ot found in this group of ferrets, but local tumor recurrence was comm on. In 4 ferrets that had a second celiotomy, removal of recurrent pan creatic tumors did not prolong survival but did result in a second dis ease-free interval. Clinical Implications-Pancreatic beta cell tumors should be considered in ferrets over 2 years of age that have clinical signs of seizures, episodic lethargy, ptyalism, ataxia, and hind limb weakness. In the study reported here, complete surgical excision of t he tumor resulted in temporary resolution of clinical signs in ferrets ; however, redevelopment of clinical signs at a later time was common.