Cardiac hemangioma in a corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus).
A 3-yr-old female corn snake, Pantherophis guttatus guttatus, was presented for clinical examination of anorexia and a coelomic mass. Radiographs and ultrasound demonstrated a fluid-filled mass in the cardiac region. Surgical exploration revealed an approximately 1.2-cm, round, multilobulated, fluid-filled, nodular lesion firmly attached to the left atrial wall. Resection was attempted but proved unsuccessful and the animal was euthanized. Histopathological examination of the lesion revealed a large cystic structure associated with a cluster of variably sized, vascular channels lined by a one-cell-thick layer of endothelium, consistent with a cardiac hemangioma of the left atrium. This, to the best of the authors' knowledge, is the first report of such an occurrence in a snake.
Division of Zoological Medicine, Department of Clinical Science of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. J.B.G.Stumpel@uu.nl
Job Benjamin Gérard
JB
Stumpel
Jorge
J
Del-Pozo
Anne
A
French
Kevin
K
Eatwell
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012911:Snakes