Chondrosarcoma of the mandible and falx cerebri in a Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griceus): report of a case

A Chinese hamster (male, 1-month-old) was found to have a large nodular mass at the left mandible. The tumor appeared to replace the entire left mandible, extending from the third molar to the incisor. The tumor mass occupied most of the oral cavity to compress the tongue ventrally. Histologically, the neoplasm was composed of islands of chondrocytes with bizarre and enlarged nuclei which were surrounded by poorly differentiated mesenchymal cells. The tumor involved the falx cerebri to compress the frontal crest of the cerebrum. On the basis of histological features, this tumor was diagnosed as chondrosarcoma.