Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
African grey parrot with malignant melanoma in syrinx and liver
By Shrader, Trenton C et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2016·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Malignant Melanoma of the Syrinx and Liver in an African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 20-year-old female African grey parrot was brought to the vet because she was unsteady and weak. Despite treatment with pain relief and antibiotics, her condition worsened, leading to her being euthanized due to a poor prognosis. A postmortem exam revealed dark red nodules in her liver, and tests showed signs of melanoma, a type of cancer, in both her liver and syrinx (the voice box area). This case is notable as it is the first recorded instance of melanoma affecting an avian syrinx.
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Abstract
A 20-year-old, female African grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was examined because of ataxia and weakness. Radiographs were unremarkable, and results of a complete blood cell count revealed leukocytosis and heterophilia. Because of poor response to therapy with meloxicam, doxycycline, and enrofloxacin; deteriorating condition; and poor prognosis, the parrot was euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed 2 dark red nodules in the liver. No grossly visible mass was observed in the syrinx. Histologic examination of the liver and syrinx revealed similar foci of round, oval, and polygonal cells exhibiting severe pleomorphism, with poorly demarcated cytoplasmic borders and moderate amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm containing brown to black granules (melanin). The mitotic index was 15. The presence of melanin pigment is consistent with a diagnosis of melanoma at both sites. The multifocal distribution and intravascular invasion indicate metastasis; however, the site of origin was unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of melanoma in an avian syrinx.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27315385/