Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Alpaca with large thyroid tumors on both sides of the neck
By Burbery, Kate et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·School of Animal and Veterinary Science, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bilateral thyroid adenomas in an alpaca.
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old neutered male alpaca was brought in because he had large, firm masses on his neck for three years, which were pressing on his throat and esophagus. After various tests, the vet found that these masses were thyroid adenomas (tumors on the thyroid gland). The vet treated the left mass using a method called chemical ablation, which shrank the mass without causing any side effects. This case is notable because it's the first report of this condition in an alpaca, although it has been seen in other animals and humans.
People also search for: alpaca neck mass · thyroid adenoma treatment in alpacas · what causes lumps on alpaca neck
Abstract
A 7-year-old neutered male alpaca (Vicugna pacos) was presented for evaluation of a 3-year history of large, bilateral, firm ventral cervical masses causing esophageal and tracheal impingement. Ultrasound examination, radiographic evaluation, histopathological findings, and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the masses to be bilateral thyroid adenomas. Conservative medical treatment by unilateral chemical ablation, using 10% formalin by aspiration technique, was performed on the left mass. Chemical ablation proved to be effective in decreasing the size of the mass, with no apparent adverse effects. To our knowledge, this case is the first known report of bilateral thyroid adenomas in an alpaca, a condition previously described in humans, horses, dogs, and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34626440/