CASE DESCRIPTION A 4-year-old sexually intact male pet guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was evaluated for a routine wellness examination. CLINICAL FINDINGS During physical examination, a small mass was palpated in the cranial aspect of the abdomen. Abdominal radiographic and ultrasonographic findings were suggestive of a gastric mass. Cytologic evaluation of a fine-needle aspirate of the mass was indicative of spindle cell proliferation most consistent with a sarcoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The patient was anesthetized, and an exploratory laparotomy and partial gastrectomy were performed to resect the gastric mass. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations of the mass revealed that it was a gastric leiomyoma. The patient recovered from surgery without complications. No evidence of mass recurrence was observed during an abdominal ultrasonographic examination performed approximately 19 months after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE To our knowledge, this was the first report of the clinical diagnosis and successful surgical treatment of a gastric neoplasm in a guinea pig. Gastric leiomyomas are not uncommon in guinea pigs, and although benign, they can cause clinical signs if they become large enough to impair gastric function. Gastrointestinal surgery should be considered as a treatment option for guinea pigs with similar gastric neoplasms.

An 8-year-old male neutered miniature Rex rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated for progressive left rear limb lameness. A smooth, hard mass was palpated over the proximolateral aspect of the left tibia. Initial radiographic evaluation of the area surrounding the mass revealed a proliferative bony lesion lateral to the tibia without evidence of pulmonary metastases. Cytology of the lesion was consistent with osseous proliferation. Follow up radiographs of the mass after the initial presentation, provided evidence of the mass increasing in size so a second cytologic evaluation was requested. The diagnostic interpretation of the second cytologic submission collected from the mass was osteosarcoma. A coxofemoral amputation was performed on the left rear limb of the rabbit, after which the patient recovered uneventfully from the procedure. Histopathologic evaluation of the mass confirmed osteoblastic osteosarcoma. There was no evidence of metastasis in radiographic images performed at 4 and slightly more than 6 months after the amputation procedure. The rabbit died 190 days after the amputation and several days after recovery from a gastrotomy for gastric bloat. A necropsy was not performed.

OBJECTIVE:To determine which organs can be reliably visualized ultrasonographically in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), describe their normal ultrasonographic appearance, and describe an ultrasonographic technique for use with this species.DESIGN:Cross-sectional study.ANIMALS:14 healthy bearded dragons (6 females and 8 males).PROCEDURES:Bearded dragons were manually restrained in dorsal and sternal recumbency, and coelomic organs were evaluated by use of linear 7- to 15-MHz and microconvex 5- to 8-MHz transducers. Visibility, size, echogenicity, and ultrasound transducer position were assessed for each organ.RESULTS:Coelomic ultrasonography with both microconvex and linear ultrasound transducers allowed for visualization of the heart, pleural surface of the lungs, liver, caudal vena cava, aorta, ventral abdominal vein, gallbladder, fat bodies, gastric fundus, cecum, colon, cloaca, kidneys, and testes or ovaries in all animals. The pylorus was visualized in 12 of 14 animals. The small intestinal loops were visualized in 12 of 14 animals with the linear transducer, but could not be reliably identified with the microconvex transducer. The hemipenes were visualized in 7 of 8 males. The adrenal glands and spleen were not identified in any animal. Anechoic free coelomic fluid was present in 11 of 14 animals. Heart width, heart length, ventricular wall thickness, gastric fundus wall thickness, and height of the caudal poles of the kidneys were positively associated with body weight. Testis width was negatively associated with body weight in males.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Results indicated coelomic ultrasonography is a potentially valuable imaging modality for assessment of most organs in bearded dragons and can be performed in unsedated animals.

An eight-year-old, female intact, boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) was presented for a 1.5- month history of wheezing, open-mouth breathing, and hyperextension of the neck. Radiographs, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and tracheal endoscopy revealed an intra- and extraluminal tracheal mass occluding approximately 95% of the tracheal lumen. Complete blood count and biochemistry panel were unremarkable, except for a moderate elevation of the hematocrit. A caudal saccular lung cannulation was placed as an emergency procedure because of worsening respiratory distress. Resection of 22 tracheal rings, inclusive of the mass, followed by anastomosis of the trachea was performed. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and electronic microscopy (EM) were consistent with a tracheal round cell neoplasia. Eleven months after the initial surgery, the snake presented for a caudal coelomic mass associated with constipation. Radiographs, US and CT findings were consistent with an infiltrating circumferential colonic mass, which was surgically resected. Histopathology and EM confirmed a round cell tumor that was morphologically identical to the previous tracheal tumor. In addition, cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions, consistent with subclinical Inclusion Body Disease (IBD), were noticed in the colonic mass. Eleven weeks after the second surgery, recurrence of the mass was observed in the colonic surgical area. A single L-asparaginase injection was attempted as a palliative treatment, and was unsuccessful. As the snake's condition declined, euthanasia was elected. Necropsy confirmed multiple malignant T-cell lymphoma in the esophagus, stomach, and colon. This is the first report of a tracheal and digestive tract malignant T-cell lymphoma in a boa. Surgical management of this case provided a palliative treatment for a life-threatening disease and a survival time of 14 months from initial presentation. Also, this is the third case report of a lymphoma in a boa with a concurrent IBD.