DERMAL HEMANGIOSARCOMA IN A SUGAR GLIDER (PETAURUS BREVICEPS)

An 11-year-old female sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) was presented with a rapidly growing dermal mass at the lateral margin of the right patagium. The result of a biopsy was consistent with a dermal hemangiosarcoma, and findings of histopathologic examination of the abnormal tissue confirmed the tentative diagnosis following surgical excision of the mass. At 1 year postsurgery, there was no evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease. There are published reports of sugar gliders diagnosed with neoplasia, and oncology cases affecting this species are occasionally seen in clinical practice. Based on an extensive literature search, the authors believe this is the first report of a dermal hemangiosarcoma in a sugar glider.