Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Duck with brain cyst and head wobble treated by surgery
By Yaw, Taylor J et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2016·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Removal of a Presumed Peripheral Cerebral Cyst via Craniectomy in a Crested Pekin Duck ( Anas platyrhynchos f dom).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A juvenile male crested pekin duck was brought in for unusual behavior, including erratic head movements and difficulty walking. A scan revealed a fluid-filled cyst pressing on his brain, so the veterinarian performed surgery to remove it. After the operation, the duck showed improvement for about five months, but eventually became less responsive, leading the owners to make the difficult decision to euthanize him due to a poor prognosis. A follow-up examination showed a thin-walled structure at the surgery site, which may have contributed to his decline.
People also search for: duck neurological signs · crested pekin duck surgery · duck ataxia treatment · duck cyst removal recovery
Abstract
A juvenile, male crested pekin duck ( Anas platyrhynchos f dom) was presented for neurologic signs suggestive of cerebellar disease. Physical examination revealed microphthalmia, erratic head movements, and ataxia. Computed tomography scan of the head and neck regions revealed 2 full-thickness skull-bone defects within the caudal portion of the cranium. The cerebellum appeared to be ventrally compressed by a homogeneous, triangular, fluid-attenuating region (0-10 Hounsfield units). A craniectomy was performed, and a presumed peripheral cerebral cyst was removed with suction and gentle dissection. No postoperative complications occurred, and the patient showed clinical improvement for 5 months after surgery. However, after 5 months, the owners elected euthanasia because of poor prognosis after finding the duck minimally responsive in a water enclosure. At necropsy, a thin-walled, epithelial structure was present in meninges and was adhered to the skull at the presumed surgical site.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27736234/