Health Guide: Lipoma Figure 3

Lipoma Figure 3

Figure 3: Lipoma in a 30-month-old male rat (Badger)
Case history and photos

History

A 30-month-old intact male rat with a history of respiratory issues.

Clinical Signs

For the last several months of his life the rat presented with a soft slow growing subcutaneous mass in the area of the ventral thoracic region.

Diagnosis

A fine needle aspirate was performed and the mass was identified as a lipoma.

Treatment

Due to the rat’s advanced age and poor health it was decided not to surgically remove the mass. Since the mass was benign, non-invasive, exhibited a slow rate of growth, and did not interfere with the rat’s daily activities it was not viewed as a critical surgery.

Outcome

Badger died from respiratory illness at 30 months old. The necropsy shows a typical benign lipoma with minimal attachment. Had the rat been a candidate for surgery this would have been a simple tumor removal.

Photos


Photo 1: Postmortem view of the subcutaneous mass.	Photo 2: The lipoma is exposed when the skin is peeled back.


Photo 3: After the lipoma has been removed you can see the minimal attachment to the underlying tissue (arrow).		Photo 4: The dorsal view of the mass shows the point of attachment (arrow).		Photo 5: The bisected lipoma shows scant vascularity.

Case History, necropsy, and photos by J. “Bella” Hodges with the owner’s permission.

Posted on December 14, 2008, 14:10, Last updated on April 10, 2010, 17:36 | Figures