Coccygeal osteosarcoma – a report in three cows

Vandana Sangwan; Kirandeep Gill; Neelam Tandia; Ashwani Kumar; Kuldip Gupta

Vandana Sangwan Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Kirandeep Gill Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Neelam Tandia Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Ashwani Kumar Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Kuldip Gupta

Keywords: amputation; bovine; coccygeal; osteosarcoma; surgery; tail tumour

Abstract

The report describes a rare occurrence of coccygeal osteosarcoma in three middle aged adult cows. All cows had a hard ulcerated swelling at the base of tail from 4-6 months making it heavy and stiff. Lateral radiographs demonstrated lysis of the initial coccygeal vertebrae with sunburst appearance. The tails were amputated, as cranial as possible, under general anaesthesia. Histology confirmed coccygeal osteosarcoma in all the cows. The cows lived a quality life for 3-6 months, post-operatively, till reoccurrence and died within 4-12months. In conclusion, coccygeal osteosarcoma bears a poor prognosis due to delay in presentation, extensive involvement and consequent re-occurrence.

Author Biographies

Kirandeep Gill, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Research Fellow, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.

Neelam Tandia, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

Ashwani Kumar, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Professor, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.

Kuldip Gupta

Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.