Vet Med - Czech, 2023, 68(3):129-134 | DOI: 10.17221/107/2022-VETMED

Malignant ovarian dysgerminoma in a 16-year-old leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)Case Report

H Zborilova1, J Dietz2, KO Heckers2, R Dvorakova3, Z Knotek1, E Cermakova1
1 Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
2 Department of Pathology, LABOKLIN Laboratory for Clinical Diagnostics GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany
3 Department of Imaging Methods, Dog and Cat Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

The 16-year-old female leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was presented with distended coelom and cachexia. Examination of the faecal sample ruled out the presence of protozoan parasites. A radiographic examination confirmed the presence of radiopaque foreign material in the intestine. The conservative treatment with tramadol, butylscopolamine, famotidine, vitamin B complex, and supportive fluid therapy with Hartmann solution and Duphalyte, was performed for 14 days. Ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of a large mass adherent to the liver (with hypoechoic regions), a thin-walled cystic structure close to the liver, and coelomic effusion. Surgical exploration revealed a large mass on the right ovary. The unilateral (right) ovariectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the mass revealed dysgerminoma with an invasion of the ovarian bursa and blood vessels. Nine months after the surgery the patient was active and doing well. In reptiles, dysgerminoma is an uncommon type of neoplasia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of dysgerminoma tumour diagnosed intravitally and treated successfully in lizards.

Keywords: histopathology; lizards; malignant neoplasia; surgery; reptiles

Received: December 14, 2022; Revised: February 9, 2023; Accepted: February 9, 2023; Prepublished online: March 22, 2023; Published: March 30, 2023  Show citation

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Zborilova H, Dietz J, Heckers K, Dvorakova R, Knotek Z, Cermakova E. Malignant ovarian dysgerminoma in a 16-year-old leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). Vet Med - Czech. 2023;68(3):129-134. doi: 10.17221/107/2022-VETMED.
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