Acta Vet. Brno 2011, 80: 243-247

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201180030243

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a green iguana – a case study

Zdeněk Knotek1,2, Gerry M. Dorrestein1,3, Anna Hrdá1, Aleš Tomek4, Pavel Proks5, Zora Knotková1, Vladimír Jekl1, William Lewis6

1Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
2Clinic for Avian, Reptile and Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
3Diagnostic Laboratory NOIVBD, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
4Clinic Jaggy, Brno, Czech Republic
5Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
6Wylie Veterinary Centre, Upminster, United Kingdom

A 3.10 kg, six-year old male green iguana (Iguana iguana) suffered several weeks of decreased activity, loss of body weight, anorexia and change of skin colour. Physical examination revealed a cachectic depressed lizard, with marked pale mucous membranes. The complete blood count revealed a leukocytosis (46.5 × 109/l), elevated heterophils (23.25 × 109/l) and azurophils (23.25 × 109/l), decreased haemoglobin concentration (29.00 g/l), low haematocrit (0.16 l/l) and erythropenia (0.35 × 1012/l). Abnormalities of the plasma chemistry panel included increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase (6.05 μkat/l) and creatinephosphokinase (217.91 μkat/l), increased concentrations of uric acid (321.58 μmol/l), phosphorus (4.04 mmol/l) and bile acids (120.21 μmol/l), as well as a decreased concentration of glucose (3.72 mmol/l), cholesterol (0.637 mmol/l) and triglycerides (0.09 mmol/l). A lateral radiograph revealed soft-tissue opacity present in the region of the liver. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a markedly enlarged left liver lobe distended caudally and displacing the other abdominal organs. The signal intensity of the liver parenchyma was slightly hyperintense, the ventro-medial part of the left lobe showed a hypointense signal. Endoscopic examination of the coelomic cavity revealed a greatly enlarged pale liver and the presence of a straw-coloured modified transudate. Based on histopathological examination of the liver hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed. Despite supportive treatment the patient died on the sixth day of hospitalisation.

References

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