A wild-caught subadult eastern yellowbelly racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) presented with three raised, circumscribed, freely moveable subcutaneous masses over the dorsal and right epaxial musculature. Microscopic examination and special staining of surgically excised masses were diagnostic for chromatophoroma. No metastases were apparent on whole-body plain film radiographs and computed tomography. Additional excisional biopsies of previously affected sites performed 13 wk later demonstrated normal skin and subcutis. The snake recovered uneventfully and continued to do well 18 mo later. Surgical excision of chromatophoromas remains the treatment of choice in snakes. Subcutaneous masses in snakes should be thoroughly investigated.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 March 2007
DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE CHROMATOPHOROMAS IN AN EASTERN YELLOWBELLY RACER (COLUBER CONSTRICTOR FLAVIVENTRIS)
WmKirk Suedmeyer,
Jeffrey N. Bryan,
Gayle Johnson,
April Freeman
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 38 • No. 1
March 2007
Vol. 38 • No. 1
March 2007
Chromatophoromas
computed tomography
eastern yellowbelly racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris)
Fontana-Masson droplets
S-100 protein