Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are commonly diagnosed in animals, particularly African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) (APHs). This study reviews individual hedgehog and tumor characteristics of 17 OSCCs in APHs, as well as 94 OSCC cases currently recorded in the scientific literature, to assess common trends and potential risk factors for these neoplasms in the species. A single detailed case of OSCC is described in the case series; it was submitted for autopsy with cytological and diagnostic imaging data while the remaining cases were routine histological biopsies. Histologically, OSCCs showed infiltrative trabeculae and nests of squamous epithelial cells with variable degrees of keratinization. Bone and nasal invasion were observed in some OSCCs (n = 3), consistent with the literature. Metastasis has been rarely reported and was not recorded in this case series. Inflammation was observed in examined OSCCs, as well as in literature cases, including in the mucosa adjacent to OSCCs, suggesting a potential role of chronic inflammation in tumor promotion. This study highlights that individuals older than 2 years old with chronic stomatitis are potentially at higher risk of developing OSCCs, with the maxilla (66.0%) being the most common site of tumor development. No sex predilection is evident. Recurrence and metastatic potential remain insufficiently documented, warranting further investigation.
Wissink-ArgilagaN. Veterinary care of African pygmy hedgehogs. In Pract2020;42(3):151–158. doi:10.1136/inp.m348
2.
SainsburyAWCunninghamAAMorrisPAKirkwoodJKMacgregorSK. Health and welfare of rehabilitated juvenile hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) before and after release into the wild. Vet Rec. 1996;138(3):61–65. doi:10.1136/vr.138.3.61
3.
Simone-FreilicherEAHoeferHL. Hedgehog care and husbandry. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2004;7(2):257–267. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2004.01.004
4.
HoeferHL. Hedgehogs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1994;24(1):113–120. doi:10.1016/S0195-5616(94)50006-8
5.
DossGAJeonYSnyderC. Feasibility of dental and oral cavity examination and dental radiography in sedated four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). J Exot Pet Med. 2026;56:1–7. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2025.11.001
6.
Wissink-ArgilagaN. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Handbook of exotic pet medicine. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2020; 13–26. doi:10.1002/9781119389934.ch2
7.
GardhouseS. Retrospective study of disease occurrence in captive African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). Isr J Vet Med. 2015;70(1):32–36.
8.
Pei-ChiHJane-FangYLih-ChiannW. A retrospective study of the medical status on 63 African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) at the Taipei zoo from 2003 to 2011. J Exot Pet Med. 2015;24(1):105–111. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.11.003
9.
Del AguilaGTorresCGCarvalloFRGonzalezCMCifuentesFF. Oral masses in African pygmy hedgehogs. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2019;31(6):864–867. doi:10.1177/1040638719878870
10.
MartelABoyenFRauJ, et al.Widespread disease in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(10):2686–2690. doi:10.3201/eid2710.203335
11.
MartínezLSJuan-SallésCCucchi-StefanoniKGarnerMM. Actinomyces naeslundii infection in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) with mandibular osteomyelitis and cellulitis. Vet Rec. 2005;157(15):450–451. doi:10.1136/vr.157.15.450
12.
HanJINaKJ. Clinical application of PCR-RFLP for the differentiation of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. Erinacei in the facial dermatitis of household African pygmy hedgehog (Erinaceus albiventris). J Vet Clin. 2008;25(3):211–214.
13.
MundayJSLöhrCVKiupelM. Tumors of the alimentary tract. In: Tumors in domestic animals. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016; 499–601. doi:10.1002/9781119181200.ch13
14.
RaymondJTGarnerMM. Spontaneous tumours in captive African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris): A retrospective study. J Comp Pathol. 2001;124(2-3):128–133. doi:10.1053/jcpa.2000.0441
15.
ShigaTShigaTNakataM, et al.A retrospective study (2006-2020) of cytology and biopsy findings in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) seen at an exotic animal clinic in Tokyo, Japan. J Exot Pet Med. 2021;38:11–17. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2021.03.008
16.
OkadaKOkadaKKondoH, et al.A retrospective study of disease incidence in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). J Vet Med Sci. 2018;80(10):1504–1510. doi:10.1292/jvms.18-0238
17.
RiveraRYRJanovitzEB. Oronasal squamous cell carcinoma in an African hedgehog (Erinaceidae albiventris). J Wild Dis. 1992;28(1):148–150. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-28.1.148
18.
OlivaresCFEldredgeFAL. Carcinoma de células escamosas oral de alto grado con metástasis pulmonar en erizo pigmeo africano (Atelerix albiventris): Reporte de un caso. Rev Med Vet. 2023;47(1):e1464. doi:https://doi.org/10.19052/mv.vol1.iss47.7
19.
GoldschmidtMHGoldschmidtKH.Epithelial and melanocytic tumors of the skin. In: Tumors in domestic animals. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016; 88–141. doi:10.1002/9781119181200.ch4
20.
NemecAMurphyBKassPHVerstraeteFJM. Histological subtypes of oral non-tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma in dogs. J Comp Path. 2012;147(2):111–120. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2011.11.198
21.
MundayJSLöhrCVKiupelM. Tumors of the alimentary tract. In: Tumors in domestic animals. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016; 499–601. doi:10.1002/9781119181200.ch13
22.
GuptaNJadhavKShahV. Emperipolesis, entosis and cell cannibalism: Demystifying the cloud. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2017;21(1):92–98. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.203763
23.
AbbasOMahalingamM. Desmoplasia: Not always a bad thing. Histopathology. 2011;58(5):643–659. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03617.x
24.
DonovanTAMooreFMBertramCA, et al.Mitotic figures-normal, atypical, and imposters: A guide to identification. Vet Pathol. 2021;58(2):243–257. doi:10.1177/0300985820980049
25.
Che-AmatAMazlinaMAbbaY, et al.Series of clinical cases and management of histopathologically diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). J Vet Malays. 2020;32(1):19–23.
26.
SilvaGFRêmaATeixeiraSPiresMTaulescuMAmorimI. Pathological findings in African pygmy hedgehogs admitted into a Portuguese rehabilitation center. Animals (Basel)2022;12(11):11. doi:10.3390/ani12111361
27.
SpugniniEPLanzaASebastiSBaldiA. Electrochemotherapy palliation of an oral squamous cell carcinoma in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). Vet Res Forum. 2018;9(4):379–381. doi:10.30466/vrf.2018.33109
28.
HundákováAČernochováHKnotekZ. A case of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the white-bellied hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). Veterinářství. 2020;70(8):458–462.
29.
ChoHMChoiUSLeeHB. Cytologic aspects of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a captive African hedgehog (Altelerix albiventris). J Vet Clin. 2013;30(3):214–217.
30.
ChaprazovTDimitrovRYovchevaKUzunovaK. Oral and dental disorders in pet hedgehogs. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2014;38(1):1–6. doi:10.3906/vet-1302-46
31.
FellerLAltiniMLemmerJ. Inflammation in the context of oral cancer. Oral Oncol2013;49(9):887–892. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.07.003
32.
RichAFPayneILKillickRDenkDWissink-ArgilagaN. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas in zoo-managed Goeldi’s monkeys (Callimico goeldii). J Med Primatol. 2024;53(3):e12717. doi:10.1111/jmp.12717
33.
CoutureÉLLangloisISantamaria-BouvierABenoit-BiancamanoMO. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). Can Vet J. 2015;56(12):1275–1278.
34.
HeatleyJJHeatleyJJMauldinGEMauldinGEChoDChoDY. A review of neoplasia in the captive African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). Sem Avian Exotic Pet Med. 2005;14(3):182–192. doi:10.1016/j.saep.2005.07.002
35.
RodríguezFHernándezJDOrósJ. Multiple distinct neoplasms in a North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus). Top Comp Anim Med. 2023;52:100758. doi:10.1016/j.tcam.2022.100758
36.
GonçalvesMWAde Lima-SouzaRARibeiro-de-AssisMCF, et al.Prognostic implications across histological subtypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: An update. J Stom Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2025;126(6):102149. doi:10.1016/j.jormas.2024.102149
37.
PereiraMCOliveiraDTLandmanGKowalskiLP. Histologic subtypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma: Prognostic relevance. J Can Dent Assoc. 2007;73(4):339–344.
