title: Rhabdomyosarcoma in a terrestrial tortoise (Geochelone nigra) in Nigeria: a case report.
abstract: A skeletal muscle tumour (rhabdomysarcoma) was diagnosed in a 4-year-old captive female  terrestrial tortoise (Geochelone nigra) weighing 7 kg presented at the Veterinary Teaching  Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. The tumour was located at the anterior right  portion of the body and ventral to the carapace. The location of the tumour prevented the  tortoise from extending its head from the body. The tumour was a sessile, smooth white  mass, with a soft myxomatous consistency. The histological features that were diagnostic of  rhabdomyosarcoma included a sparse population of haphazardly arranged spindle-shaped  cells within a homogenous matrix (anisocytosis), occasional tumour giant and binucleate  cells, and some well differentiated myofibrils with cross striations within the cytoplasm. The  paucity of information on tumours in the land tortoise was the reason for this report, which  appears to be the first report of rhabdomyosarcoma in the tortoise.
authors: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: Oghenemega D
authors: OD
authors: Eyarefe
authors: Richard E
authors: RE
authors: Antia
authors: Cecilia O
authors: CO
authors: Oguntoye
authors: Olusoji O
authors: OO
authors: Abiola
authors: Olugbenga O
authors: OO
authors: Alaka
authors: John O
authors: JO
authors: Ogunsola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles