title: Keratoacanthoma of the spectacle in a Boa constrictor.
abstract: METHODS
  A Royal Boa constrictor presented with retained spectacle of the right eye and a tumor-like appearance of the left eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  The snake was euthanized, the head fixed in buffered formaldehyde, and histologic examination of both spectacles and both eyes performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The left orbital rim encircled a solid, scaly mass projecting 5-6 mm from the spectacular area. A cup-shaped tumor with a central keratin plug was observed microscopically. There was a thickening of the proliferating squamous epithelium, with squamous eddies and single cell keratinization. A few mitotic figures were seen in the basal layers but the tumor showed no infiltrative growth. The same morphology was observed in the right eye but to a lesser extent. The remaining parts of the eye were normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis was keratoacanthoma and this is the first reported keratoacanthoma of the spectacle in a reptile. Keratoacanthoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis when trying to remove retained spectacles from a reptile eye.
authors.affiliation: Haslev Dyreklinik, Haslev, Denmark. haslevdyreklinik@vetnet.dk
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hardon
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fledelius
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017821:Boidae; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*