A Chondrosarcoma in an African Crested Porcupine

Chondrosarcomas are uncommon in domestic mammals [ 11 and there are few references to their occurrence in non-domesticated species. Four neoplasms have been described in porcu-pines [2]-none of them a chondrosarcoma. We have been unable to trace any records of this tumour in these rodents. A 10-year-old male African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristala) was one of an apparently infertile pair in a zoological collection in Great Britain. The porcupine had anorexia, vomiting and right foreleg lameness 2 days before it was found dead. At postmortem examination the porcupine had a large mucinous tumour (fig. I) under the right scapula overlying and attached to the third rib. The tumour infiltrated through the rib to the pleural cavity but there was no contact with the lungs. Both lungs contained multiple nodules (fig. 2). The right ventricle was dilated and the liver was swollen and congested. The c m cm Fig. 1: Primary chondrosarcoma. Cystic appearance of cut surface