Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation therapy shrinks neck tumor in Indian ringneck parakeet
By Noriega, Jacobo Romano et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2025·Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Medical Management of a Cervical Thymoma by Radiation Therapy in an Indian Ringneck Parakeet ().
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 20-year-old female Indian ringneck parakeet was brought in for treatment of a growing mass on the right side of her neck, which was diagnosed as a thymoma (a type of tumor). She received 10 sessions of radiation therapy over a month, which successfully reduced the tumor size by about 60% in length and 40% in width, making it softer to the touch. Unfortunately, the tumor began to regrow about 73 days after treatment, and despite a single dose of chemotherapy, the parakeet's health declined, leading to the decision for euthanasia. While radiation therapy helped reduce the tumor temporarily, a different treatment plan may be needed for better long-term outcomes in similar cases.
People also search for: parakeet neck tumor treatment · Indian ringneck parakeet radiation therapy · bird thymoma symptoms
Abstract
Thymomas are uncommon in birds and management is challenging because of tumor characteristics such as growth location and local invasiveness, limiting surgical and chemotherapeutic options. A 20-year-old female Indian ringneck parakeet () was referred for radiation therapy because of an increase in size of a right-sided cervical mass. The mass was tentatively diagnosed as a thymoma after biopsy and incomplete surgical resection 3 months previously. Therapeutic management in this parakeet included 10 treatments of palliative radiation therapy over the course of 1 month. The tumor decreased in size by approximately 60% in length and 40% in width and was palpably softer after radiation therapy, but regrowth was observed 73 days after the final radiation treatment. One dose of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide was administered at that time, but euthanasia was elected 5 days later due to the parakeet's declining clinical condition and poor prognosis. Radiation therapy was effective in this bird as a palliative treatment in reducing tumor size; however, a modified protocol or a multimodal approach may be needed for longer-term control of thymomas in avian species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40638141/