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1 March 2017 MULTIHORMONAL ISLET CELL CARCINOMAS IN THREE KOMODO DRAGONS (VARANUS KOMODOENSIS)
Ronan Eustace, Michael M. Garner, Kimberly Cook, Christine Miller, Matti Kiupel
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Multihormonal pancreatic islet cell carcinomas were found in one female and two male captive geriatric Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis). Gross changes in the pancreas were visible in two of the cases. Clinical signs noted in the Komodo dragons were lethargy, weakness, and anorexia. Histologically, the tumors were comprised of nests and cords of well-differentiated neoplastic islet cells with scant amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm and round, euchromatic nuclei, with rare mitoses. Infiltration by the islet cell tumor into the surrounding acinar tissue was observed in all cases, but no metastatic foci were seen. Multihormone expression was observed in all tumors, which labeled strongly positive for glucagon and somatostatin and focally positive for polypeptide. Pancreatic islet cell neoplasms should be considered in the differential diagnosis for geriatric Komodo dragons presenting with weakness, lethargy, and poor appetite.

Copyright 2017 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Ronan Eustace, Michael M. Garner, Kimberly Cook, Christine Miller, and Matti Kiupel "MULTIHORMONAL ISLET CELL CARCINOMAS IN THREE KOMODO DRAGONS (VARANUS KOMODOENSIS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 48(1), 241-244, (1 March 2017). https://doi.org/10.1638/2016-0131.1
Received: 14 June 2016; Published: 1 March 2017
KEYWORDS
Islet cell carcinoma
Komodo dragon
neoplasia
reptile
Varanus komodoensis
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