A 15-yr-old female Madagascar ground boa (Boa madagascariensis) presented with a history of anorexia, wheezing, and occasional open-mouth breathing. On oral examination, a firm, caseous mass was noted in the right caudoventral pharyngeal region, which was confirmed as a carcinoma on incisional biopsy. Advanced imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) was performed to evaluate local tumor invasion and to plan for palliative radiation therapy. However, following the second treatment (10 Gy), the mass had increased in size, and the snake was euthanatized. Radiation-associated vasculitis was noted within the soft tissues surrounding the mass and within muscles and the lung, which was verified on histopathology. The squamous cell carcinoma of the snake in this report was resistant to palliative radiation therapy.
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1 March 2013
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF A PHARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA IN A MADAGASCAR GROUND BOA (BOA MADAGASCARIENSIS)
James C. Steeil,
Juergen Schumacher,
Silke Hecht,
Katherine Baine,
Edward C. Ramsay,
Sylvia Ferguson,
Debra Miller,
Nathan D. Lee
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Boa madagascariensis
Madagascar ground boa
magnetic resonance imaging
neoplasia
palliative radiation
squamous cell carcinoma