Anterior Coelomic Rhabdomyosarcoma in a Central American Banded Gecko, Coleonyx mitratus
Assoc Reptilian Amphibian Vet 9[1]:23-25 Spring'99 Case Report 17 Refs

- An adult female Central American banded gecko, Coleonyx mitratus, housed with a male of the same species for two years, became thin over an undetermined period of time. After separation from the male, regurgitation was noted. In spite of supportive care, the animal continued to lose weight over the subsequent ten days. Gastrointestinal contrast radiographs indicated a filling defect in the mid-intestinal region with generalized intestinal distention. Exploratory celiotomy revealed gas and fluid distention of all intestinal loops and a soft tissue mass in the cranial coelomic region. Histopathological examination of the soft tissue mass identified it as a rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare neoplasm in reptiles. Intestinal distention was attributed to ileus. As in mammals, recommended treatment of malignant tumors in reptiles is wide surgical excision. Radiation and photodynamic therapy have been attempted in some cases with limited success (Ramsey, 1996). This is the first report of this type of neoplasm in a lizard.