Mandibulectomy for treatment of chondrosarcoma in a rabbit

A four-year-old male, crossbred rabbit was referred for diagnosis of a mass on the right mandible. An excisional biopsy sample of the mass was diagnosed as a chondorosarcoma. Seventeen days after the biopsy, a recurrence of the tumor was confirmed and the mass was surgically resected by a partial hemimandibulectomy. The rabbit recovered uneventfully from surgery and had remained clinically normal. On re-examination, 57 days postoperatively, the recurrence of the tumor was confirmed and was surgically resected with the remaining right caudal mandible. Sixty three days after surgery, the rabbit was euthanized because of dyspnea. Necropsy revealed pulmonary metastasis and tracheal stenosis by an abscess formation.