Affiliation:
1. Service des Nouveaux Animaux de Compagnie, Oniris, CHUV Nantes France
2. Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort Maisons‐Alfort France
3. Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort Maisons‐Alfort France
4. Services des Nouveaux Animaux de Compagnie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort Maisons‐Alfort France
5. Service Nouveaux Animaux de Compagnie Paris France
Abstract
AbstractA 14‐year‐old, female, blue‐fronted Amazon parrot was referred for episodes of regurgitation. The differential diagnosis mainly included bornavirus infection, infectious or traumatic ingluvitis, gastro‐oesophageal reflux, gastritis/enteritis, heavy metal poisoning, metabolic disease (severe hepatic or renal disease), coelomitis, digestive neoplasia, extra‐digestive masses, organomegaly or foreign body. No improvement was noted with symptomatic treatment. Radiographs, avian bornavirus polymerase chain reaction and serology, biochemistry, haematology, crop cytology and ultrasonography failed to provide a definitive diagnosis. Lethargy, weight loss and crop stasis after 1 month motivated computed tomography, which revealed focal thickening of the oesophageal wall. Fine‐needle aspiration under computed tomography guidance of the mass was non‐diagnostic, and the bird died during recovery from anaesthesia. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed by histopathology. This case illustrates the benefit of advanced diagnostic imaging to investigate chronic refractory regurgitations and describes the use of computed tomography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration in an avian patient.