Nasal Mucosal Adenocarcinoma in a Pet Rabbit

A 6-year-old male rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presented with upper respiratory disease that was nonresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Computed tomography revealed a severe space-occupying lesion of the right nasal cavity, deviation of the nasal septum to the left, and narrowing of the left nasal cavity. An exploratory rhinostomy was performed for the purposes of diagnostic sample collection and to improve airflow as clinical signs of dyspnea were becoming more pronounced. The histopathologic disease diagnosis from the biopsy samples was nasal mucosal adenocarcinoma. Palliative rhinostomy provided only temporary improvement in airflow, and the patient was euthanized 3 days later. On necropsy, neoplasia was found to extend into the rhinopharynx. This is the first reported case of nasal mucosal adenocarcinoma in rabbits. This important differential diagnosis should be considered for any rabbit with clinical signs of upper respiratory disease that is nonresponsive to medical therapy.