Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation treatment shrinks undertail fibrosarcoma in Major
By Hinkle, Daria et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2022·College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful radiation treatment of undertail fibrosarcoma in a Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A male Major Mitchell's cockatoo was brought in with an ulcerated mass near its tail. After tests, it was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma, a type of tumor. The bird underwent surgery to remove part of the mass and then received radiation therapy, which involved multiple sessions. By the end of treatment, the mass had shrunk significantly, and surrounding tissues looked healthy. Remarkably, 1.5 years later, the cockatoo showed no signs of the tumor returning and appeared completely healed.
People also search for: cockatoo tail mass treatment · fibrosarcoma in birds · radiation therapy for avian tumors
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A male Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) of unknown age presented with an ulcerated mass on the ventral tail caudodorsal to the cloaca. CLINICAL FINDINGS: An impression smear of the mass showed spindle cell atypia. Multiple biopsies were submitted for histopathology with inconclusive results. A CT scan revealed a soft tissue mass causing compression of the cloacal lumen. The patient underwent surgical debulking, and a core of the mass was submitted again for histopathology, which reported it as fibrosarcoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Under repeated general isoflurane gas anesthesia, the patient received a course of definitive radiation therapy totaling 60 Gy and divided in 3 Gy X 20 fractions. By treatment completion, the lesion had decreased in size with necrotic debris on the surface. Surrounding tissues appeared healthy and no adverse effects were observed. As of 1.5 years post-treatment, the mass appears completely healed with no signs of reoccurrence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case suggests that radiation therapy with this protocol could be an effective treatment option for fibrosarcoma in avian species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35333749/