Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: Benign Neoplasms and Lesions

I. Pseudo-neoplastic or Benign Growths
1.1 Xanthomas
    1.1.1 Areas commonly affected
    1.1.2 Treatment of xanthomatosis
1.2 Lipomas and hematomas
    1.2.1 Diagnosis
    1.2.2 Treatment
1.3 Myelolipomas
1.4 Papillomas
1.5 Granular-cell Tumor
1.6 Hemangiomas
1.7 Hemangiolipomas
1.8 Fibromas and Fibrosarcomas
1.9 Cysts
    1.9.1 Cystadenoma
    1.9.2 Feather cysts        
1.10 Callouses
 

Part II. Cancerous Lesions

2.1 What is Cancer?
2.2 What causes Cancer?
2.3 How do Cancerous Tumors Develop?
2.4 Classification of Tumors
 

Part III. Avian Cancer Etiologies and Diagnostic Protocols

3.1 Causes of Cancer in Birds
3.2 Most Commonly Seen Tumors in Birds
3.3 Determining if the Tumor is Benign (non-cancerous) or Malignant (cancerous)
    3.3.1 Benign tumors
    3.3.2 Malignant tumors
3.4 Diagnosing Tumors in Birds
    3.4.1 Physical exam and history
    3.4.2 Biopsy
    3.4.3 CBC
    3.4.4 Cytology and immunohistochemistry
    3.4.5 Imaging
3.5 Primary and Secondary Tumors
    3.5.1 Primary tumors
    3.5.2 Secondary tumors or metastatic disease
3.6 Internal and External Malignancies
3.7 Cancer and the Geriatric Bird
 

Part IV: Classification of Malignant Tumors in Birds

4.1 Hemangiosarcoma
4.2 Liposarcoma
4.3 Squamous-cell Carcinoma (SCC)
    4.3.1 Areas of occurrence and recurrence
    4.3.2 Treatment
4.4 Fibrosarcoma
4.5 Thymoma and Adenocarcinoma
4.6 Lymphoma and Lymphosarcoma
    4.6.1 Lymphosarcomas of the eye
    4.6.2 Clinical signs
    4.6.3 Organs and tissues infiltrated by lymphosarcomas
4.7 Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma
4.8 Teratoma
 

Part V: Cancers specific to body systems and organs

5.1 Cancer of the Integument and Feather Follicles
    5.1.1 Basal cell tumor
    5.1.2 Malignant melanoma
5.2 Cancer of the Blood
5.3 Cancer of the Musculoskeletal System
    5.3.1 Leiomyosarcoma
    5.3.2 Rhabdomyosarcoma
    5.3.3 Chondroma and chondrosarcoma
    5.3.4 Osteoma and osteosarcoma
    5.3.5 Osseous metaplasia
    5.3.6 Synovial cell sarcoma
5.4 Cancer of the Endocrine and Glandular Systems
    5.4.1 Pituitary gland tumors
    5.4.2 Adrenal gland tumors
    5.4.3 Thyroid gland tumors
    5.4.4 Uropygial gland tumor
5.5 Cancer of the Hemolymphatic System
5.6 Cancer of the Urinary Tract
    5.6.1 Renal tumors
    5.6.2 Nephroblastomas
5.7 Cancer of the Reproductive Tract
    5.7.1 Male reproductive tract tumors and growths
        5.7.1.1 Sertoli-cell tumors
        5.7.1.2 Brown hypertrophy of the cere
    5.7.2 Female reproductive tract tumors and growths
        5.7.2.1 Ovarian tumors
        5.7.2.2 Ovarian cysts
5.8 Cancer of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
    5.8.1 Gastric neoplasia
    5.8.2 Cancer of the esophagus, proventriculus, and ventriculus
    5.8.3 Cloacal carcinomas
    5.8.4 Cancer of the liver and bile duct
    5.8.5 Cancer of the pancreas
5.9 Cancer of the Eyes, Oral Cavity, and Beak
    5.9.1 Tumors of the eye
    5.9.2 Tumors of the glottis
    5.9.3 Tumors of the beak
5.10 Cancer of the Respiratory Tract
    5.10.1 Air sac carcinomas
    5.10.2 Nasal and sinus carcinomas or adenocarcinomas
    5.10.3 Pulmonary neoplasias in cockatiels
 

Part VI: Determining and Managing the Care of the Avian Cancer Patient

6.1 Tumor analysis: Table of data
6.2 Supporting the avian cancer patient
    6.2.1 Recognizing the signs of cancer in birds
    6.2.2 Caring for a bird with cancer
    6.2.3 Giving medication
6.3 Recognizing cancer pain
    6.3.1 Categories of pain
    6.3.2 How can you tell if your bird is in pain?
    6.3.3 Assessing pain levels in a bird
6.4 Nutritional Support
    6.4.1 Providing proper nutrition
    6.4.2 ©EmerAid Intensive Care Nutritional Supplements for birds
6.5 Treatment Protocols for Tumors
    6.5.1 Surgical removal of tumors
    6.5.2 The ©Elekta Gamma Knife
    6.5.3 Use of lasers to surgically remove growths
    6.5.4 Radiation therapy and chemotherapy with case study
6.6 Quality of life assessment in Birds
6.7 Moral and Ethical Obligations
6.8 Providing Comfort and Care
6.9 Euthanasia: The Most Difficult Decision of All

Conclusion

References

Appendices:

Appendix A. Assessing your bird’s pain level
Appendix B. Assessing your bird’s quality of life
Appendix C. Where to purchase Lafeber products nationally and internationally
Appendix D. Julie Hebert: Feather destructive behavior in an African grey parrot
Appendix E. Intracoelomic Teratoma in an Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus)
Appendix F. Reported Metastatic Tumors in Birds