Thymoma

Thymomas are tumors that originate from the thymus, a specialized organ of the immune system in the chest cavity.

Symptoms

 * Eye bulging (exophthalmus)


 * Third eye protusion
 * Swelling of the head, neck, or forelimbs
 * Abnormally rapid breathing (tachypnea)
 * Difficult or labored breathing (dyspnea)


 * Widespread scaling of the skin (exfoliative dermatitis)
 * Sebaceous adenitis

Diagnosis
Radiographs and CT scans will diagnose the existence of a chest mass, but a biopsy is necessary to distinguish between a thymoma and thymic lymphoma.

Treatment

 * Surgery
 * Radiation therapy
 * Chemotherapy
 * Steroids: most often prednisolone, but sometimes dexamethasone.

The following are more resources on treatment options for rabbits:


 * Alyssa Palmer et al. (2021). Outcomes and survival times of client-owned rabbits diagnosed with thymoma and treated with either prednisolone or radiotherapy, or left untreated
 * La’Toya Latney, DVM. (2016). Exotics Oncology: Special Focus on Updates on Therapies for Rabbits & Ferrets
 * Clinician's Brief. (2012). Surgery: Not Ideal for Rabbit Thymoma?
 * F. Künzel et al. (2012). Thymomas in rabbits: clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
 * D. Guzman Sanchez-Migallon et al. (2006). Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Thymoma in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
 * James K. Morrisey and Margaret McEntee. (2005). Therapeutic Options for Thymoma in the Rabbits

The following is a list of hospitals that have radiation oncology departments that may be able to treat rabbits for thymomas:


 * United Kingdom
 * Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Practice at The University of Edinburgh (Midlothian, Scotland)
 * United States
 * VCA California Veterinary Specialists - Carlsbad (Carlsbad, California)
 * UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Davis, California)
 * Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado)
 * Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital (Wheat Ridge, Colorado) - does not normally take exotics but has worked with Drs. Gardhouse and Swift from Evolution Veterinary Specialists for cases
 * University of Florida Small Animal Hospital (Gainesville, Florida)
 * Harrington Oncology Service at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (North Grafton, Massachusetts)
 * Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center (East Lansing, Michigan)
 * Cornell University Hospital for Animals (Ithaca, New York)
 * Animal Medical Center Cancer Institute (New York, New York)
 * NC State Veterinary Hospital (Raleigh, North Carolina)
 * Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (Houston, Texas)
 * Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Pullman, Washington)
 * University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, Wisconsin)

Experiences

 * Maurice Liang. (2023). Bella's story with radiation treatment, treatment update
 * u/WickAndFable. (2023). Fable's story with steroid treatment
 * Against All Odds Rabbit Rescue. (2022). Tyrion's story with steroid treatment
 * u/faithanyacordelia. (2021). Story of 11yo rabbit with thymoma in remission after radiation treatment
 * Katheryn L. Sullivan Kutil. (2021). A Little MSU Magic: Palliative Radiation Therapy for Nanny, the Unicorn Rabbit
 * Devin Roktya. (2021). Rabbit travels from Seattle for life‑saving treatment
 * Tallulah Rabbit & Friends. (2021). Tallulah's story
 * Rusty & Furriends: Vegas Dumpsite Bunnies. (2021). Jenny's story - 7yo rabbit received radiation therapy for 2 months to shrink the tumor
 * u/rileybun. (2020). Riley's story with radiation treatment
 * u/headpeon. (2020). Ninja's story with steroid treament.
 * u/X63914. (2019). Thumper's story - passed while under anesthesia to trim molar spurs with diagnosed thymoma
 * Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Practice. (2016). Booboo's story - 9yo rabbit received radiation therapy to reduce the size of tumor
 * u/yoyomamma. (2015). Update on Nikki, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in October.
 * Avian and Exotics Service - Ontario Veterinary College. (2014). Pierrot the rabbit traveled to Michigan from Ontario, Canada, to receive weekly radiation treatment
 * The Scootie Scoop. (2013).
 * RabbitsOnline. (2013). Thymoma cancer
 * Rabbit Reporter's Warren. (2012). General has Thymoma, Too: Two Buns, One Pet Store
 * /somecows/. (2011). Thymoma in Rabbits: Paco’s Story
 * Davida Kobler. (2004). A Miracle for Hopnoodle