Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bird falling and blind diagnosed with brain and kidney tumor
By Kirk, Nick et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2022·Parrish Creek Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis of Seminoma With Metastasis to the Brain and Kidneys in a Moluccan Eclectus () Using Advanced Contrast Based Imaging.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 20-year-old male Moluccan eclectus parrot was brought in after showing signs of falling off his perch, difficulty walking, blindness in one eye, decreased appetite, and increasing tiredness. Blood tests showed high white blood cell counts and elevated bile acids, and imaging revealed a mass near the left kidney. Despite supportive care, the parrot's condition worsened, leading the owner to choose euthanasia. A postmortem examination confirmed the presence of a seminoma (a type of tumor) that had spread to the kidneys and brain. Unfortunately, this case highlights the serious nature of metastatic tumors in birds.
People also search for: Moluccan eclectus parrot tumor · parrot falling off perch · parrot blindness causes · seminoma in birds · parrot euthanasia decision
Abstract
A 20-year-old male Moluccan eclectus () was presented with a history of falling off the perch, ataxia, unilateral blindness, hyporexia, and progressive lethargy. The eclectus was found to have a leukocytosis (52 × 10cells/µL), characterized by an absolute and relative heterophilia (42.6 × 10cells/µL and 82%, respectively), relative lymphopenia (18%), elevated bile acids (88 µmol/L), and elevated triglycerides (236 mg/dL). Radiographic images revealed a mass effect within the caudal coelom. After 13 days of outpatient supportive care, the patient was rechecked and had normalized bile acids (<35 µmol/L), static triglycerides (232 mg/ dL), and hyperuricemia (18.6 mg/dL). Computed tomography was performed antemortem with and without iodinated contrast agent, 4 mL/kg IV over 2 minutes, and a mass was found associated with the left kidney. Due to worsening neurologic signs and involvement with surrounding structures, the owner elected euthanasia. Before the postmortem examination, a postmortem intravascular contrast agent was used to provide a more thorough visualization of internal anatomical structures, including left renal vasculature disruption, mass vasculature, caudal coelomic organ displacement, and increased irregular optic chiasm radiodensity. Postmortem, a 4 × 4.1 × 5.1-cm white to tan mass was identified. Histopathology confirmed a seminoma with metastasis to the kidneys and optic chiasm. Seminomas have been described in avian species; however, seminoma metastasis in an eclectus parrot confirmed by histopathology has not been reported, and optic chiasm metastasis of a seminoma has not been described in any avian species. This report describes postmortem computed tomographic angiography of metastatic seminoma in a Moluccan eclectus with metastasis to the optic chiasm.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36468811/