Diagnosis, treatment, and characterization with advanced diagnostic imaging of an oral ectopic elodontoma in a pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract Background Oral tumors are uncommon in rabbits, and one study reports benign odontogenic tumors are relatively common compared to domestic companion animals, which has important treatment and prognostic implications. Case description A 10-year-old male intact dwarf-mix rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presented with weight loss and a 4-day history of progressive inappetence, decreased fecal output, and ptyalism. A head CT revealed a partially mineralized, mildly contrast enhancing oral mass associated with the right buccal mucosa and protruding to the level of the tongue. The head CT also revealed dental malocclusion with an odontogenic abscess ipsilaterally to the mass. An excisional biopsy of the oral mass revealed an ectopic elodontoma. Following excisional biopsy of the oral mass, the rabbit's dental malocclusion was treated with a dental trim and the abscess was treated with systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and surgical debridement with marsupialization. The rabbit continues to have periodic dental trims and has had no clinical recurrence of the mass in the sixteen months following excision, although the buccal mucosa in the location appears irregularly textured. Conclusion and case relevance This is the first report to characterize an ectopic oral elodontoma with advanced imaging. Ectopic elodontoma should be a differential diagnosis for buccal mucosal masses in rabbits. Odontogenic oral tumors are more commonly reported in rabbits compared to other nondomestic species, and reasonable long-term control was achieved in this case by excisional biopsy.