Metastasizing squamous cell carcinoma in a 50-year-old Eastern Hermann‘s tortoise (Testudo hermannii boettgeri)

Abstract

A 50-year-old female Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermannii boettgeri) was presented with anorexia and lethargy. Clinical examination revealed multiple, visually inconspicuous but indentable areas in the shell corresponding to osteolysis radiographically. Soft tissue nodules and osteolytic lesions were also noted in the limbs. Laboratory results revealed elevated aspartate aminotransferase activity and uric acid concentrations, hypoglycemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Klebsiella oxytoca was isolated from a biopsied scutal area, and the biopsy suggested neoplasia. After a short period of clinical improvement, the animal's condition deteriorated, and it died. Post mortem computed tomography revealed polyostotic lytic lesions of multiple bones and the shell with associated soft tissue nodules protruding into the coelom, and nodular lung lesions. Necropsy, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry secured a diagnosis of a poorly differentiated, pan-cytokeratin-positive squamous cell carcinoma with widespread soft tissue and bone metastases, osteolysis and desmoplasia.

Zusammenfassung

Eine 50-jährige, weibliche Griechische Landschildkröte (Testudo hermannii boettgeri) wurde mit Anorexie und Apathie vorgestellt. Klinisch waren multiple, makroskopisch unauffällige, eindrückbare Panzerareale mit Osteolysen im Röntgenbild assoziiert. Es fanden sich weiterhin weichteildichte Knoten, sowie Osteolysen in den Gliedmaßen. Blutchemische Untersuchungen zeigten Hypoglykämie, Hyperphosphatämie, erhöhte Aspartataminotransferase- und Harnsäurewerte. Mikrobiologie und eine Biopsie zeigten geringgradiges Wachstum von Klebsiella oxytoca sowie eine Neoplasie. Das Tier verstarb nach kurzer klinischer Verbesserung. Eine postmortale Computertomografie bestätigte multiple lytische Knochen- und Panzerläsionen assoziiert mit weichteildichten, ins Zölom ragenden Knoten sowie knotige Lungenveränderungen. Durch Obduktion, Histologie und Immunhistologie konnte ein schlecht differenziertes, Panzytokeratin-positives Plattenepithelkarzinom mit weitreichenden Weichgewebs- und Knochenmetastasen, Osteolyse und Desmoplasie diagnostiziert werden.

Key words

Neoplasia - reptiles - chelonian - Testudinidae

Schlüsselwörter

Neoplasie - Reptilien - Schildkröte - Testudinidae

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