Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hyacinth macaw with lung cancer causing leg weakness and death
By Baumgartner, Wes A et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2008·Department of Pathobiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in a hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A female hyacinth macaw suddenly became very weak in her legs and had trouble moving. After a thorough examination, vets found soft tissue nodules in her lungs that had spread to her spine. Unfortunately, she went into respiratory failure shortly after the tests and passed away. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had a type of lung cancer called bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, which had invaded her spine.
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Abstract
An adult female hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) was presented for sudden onset of severe weakness in the legs. Neurologic examination revealed bilateral paresis of the pelvic limbs and decreased proprioception. Results of radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed variably sized soft tissue nodules throughout the lungs and invading into the spine and vertebral canal. Soon after the CT scan, the bird went into cardiorespiratory arrest and died. At necropsy, several yellow, coalescing nodules that were firm with a caseous component were present in the lungs, and a focus of similar tissue was attached to the vertebrae and invaded the spinal canal. On histologic examination, the diagnosis was primary pulmonary bronchial adenocarcinoma with spinal invasion.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19014095/