Neck Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma in a Fischer's lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

Case Report: Multiple Cavernous Pericardial Lymphangioma (Pericardial Lymphangiomatosis) in a Captive Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei)

A 12-year-old female peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei) from a private raptor breeding facility that presented a good body condition, died suddenly without showing previous symptoms. At necropsy, in the coelomic cavity, multiple cystic structures demarcated by a thin transparent wall and filled with a serous content were observed. They were firmly adhered to the cranial part of the epicardium and adjacent tissues and occupied the entire thoracic area of the coelomic cavity. Microscopically, emerging simultaneously from several areas the epicardium, multiple irregular channels and cystic spaces, lined by a single endothelial cell layer and separated by fibrovascular septa containing smooth muscle tissue, were observed. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the neoplastic endothelial cells positively immunolabelled for the pan-endothelial marker factor VIII-related antigen but immunostained negative for cytokeratins (PCK26) while strong positivity for sarcomeric α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected in the cystic walls. Based on the morphological and immunohistochemical findings, lesions were determined as consistent with a multiple cavernous pericardial lymphangioma, or pericardial lymphangiomatosis, a rare vascular neoplasm. The animal also showed a diffuse chronic perihepatitis, a necrotic area in the liver and foci of cartilaginous metaplasia and calcification in the aorta and vena cava. Literature review, particularly on the epidemiology of lymphangioma, demonstrated the rarity of this tumor in the different animal species and in this location, particularly in birds, being the first report of this type of tumor in a peregrine falcon.

Congenital Cutaneous Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma in a Newborn Calf

A one-day-old female Holstein calf was presented with subcutaneous masses spread over the whole body. Macroscopically, the masses were firm in touch, greyish-white in colour, 0.5-2 cm in diameter range. Histopathological examination confirmed the cutaneous Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE). Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed sheets of spindled endothelial cells forming vascular slits. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells and capillaries gave strongly positive reaction for CD31 while vimentin, alpha smooth muscle actin and cytokeratin AE1/AE3 were negative. In this case, macroscopical, detailed histhopathological and immunohistochemical findings of congenital KHE reported firstly in a newborn calf.

Electrochemotherapy for the treatment of an incompletely excised subcutaneous low-grade epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in a budgerigar parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Background

Cutaneous tumors are rarely described in avian and are frequently of viral origin. Solid tumors of vascular origin are seldom reported and usually result in difficult management by surgery alone. We describe the outcome of a subcutaneous low-grade epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) treated with the combination of surgery and electrochemotherapy.

Case Description

A 10-year-old male budgerigar parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus) was referred for evaluation of a 2-month non-healing exophytic mass on the left wing. The bird was bright, alert, and responsive, with a 2 × 1 cm proliferative lesion on the wing. Signs of discomfort were elicited by the clinical manipulation of the wing; no other abnormalities were detected during physical evaluation. Following hematological and imaging analysis, the parakeet was anesthetized and the mass was surgically removed. The histopathology report came back with a diagnosis of incompletely excised subcutaneous low-grade EHE. A surgical revision was not feasible due to the anatomical location and tumor extension. Adjuvant electrochemotherapy was chosen to increase the chance of tumor control. Two sessions of electrochemotherapy were performed with a 2-week interval between treatments using intralesional bleomycin followed by trains of permeabilizing electric pulses. Side effects were not observed and the parakeet was disease-free for 12 months when he died of acute renal failure.

Conclusion

In lieu of the incomplete surgical excision of the tumor, electrochemotherapy resulted in good local control and cosmetic appearance and should be added to the standard oncological therapies for avian.