title: Microsurgical excision of an abdominal mass in a gourami.
abstract: A female, sunset, thick-lipped gourami (Colisa labiosa) that weighed 8 g and was 5.4 cm from the snout to the end of the vertebral column was examined because of a 5-mm-diameter, midventrally located mass that had developed suddenly 1 month earlier. Cytologic examination of a sample obtained by use of fine-needle aspiration, survey radiography, positive-contrast radiography of the gastrointestinal tract, and Doppler ultrasonography were performed to evaluate the mass. These procedures were not able to provide a definitive diagnosis, but did facilitate surgical planning. The mass was excised, and the abdominal musculature was repaired, using microsurgical techniques. Redevelopment of the mass was not detected during the 5-month period after surgery. Histologic evaluation of the mass revealed an organized hematoma of undetermined cause. Successful management of this gourami illustrated that size should not be a deterrent to diagnostic evaluation and surgical intervention in diminutive fish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bakal
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Spaulding
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lewbart
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005399:Fishes; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000662:veterinary*