title: Squamous cell carcinoma associated with a periorbital mass in a veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus).
abstract: This report describes a squamous cell carcinoma in a 1-year-old female veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). The lesion developed as a small (1 by 1 mm) left periocular discoloration of a scale never involving the eye. The mass was first diagnosed as an abscess, increased in size (4 by 8 by 3 mm), and recurred after two surgical resections combined with antibiotic therapy. Poor nutritional condition and egg production by the chameleon complicated management of this condition. The mass was removed surgically a third time at which point histopathologic evaluation revealed a locally invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Bacterial culture of the mass isolated a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ceftazidime was administered at 20 mg/kg IM every 48 h for 20 days. The animal died 3 months later from complications during an ovariohysterectomy for pregnancy toxemia and oviduct inertia. Necropsy showed no local recurrence or metastasis of the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. na24@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abou-Madi
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008116:Lizards; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002442:Ceftazidime