Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasm that usually arises from the integument, and is reported uncommonly in pet birds. Basaloid SCC is a variant from the prototypic squamous cell carcinoma and is a biologically high grade tumor that shows a sharp predilection for the base of the tongue, the hypopharynx and the supraglottic larynx, manifesting deep and lateral invasion. We present the case of an Amazon aestiva from Paraguay with a basaloid SCC in the skin, of 8 months of evolution. Histologically, the findings were compatible with poorly differentiated carcinoma, and immunohistochemistry resulted positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and 34βe12, and negative for BerEP4, vimentin and CK7, suggesting a basaloid variant of SCC. The owner reported that two weeks after the surgical removal of the mass, the animal was found dead and buried immediately, which is why post-mortem studies could not be carried out. In humans, basaloid SCC is associated with the upper aerodigestive tract but reports distant metastasis, even to the skin, suggesting a primary tumor elsewhere. To the authors best knowledge, this is the first report of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in a bird.
References
Altavilla, G., Mannarà, G. M., Rinaldo, A., & Ferlito, A. (1999). Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharynx. Journal for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Its Related Specialties, 61(3), 169-173. http://doi.org/10.1159/000027665. PMid:10325559.
Amorim, R. L., Torres Neto, R., & Kiupel, M. (2016). Imuno-histoquímica no diagnóstico oncológico. In C. A. Daleck & A. B. de Nardi (Eds.), Oncologia em cães e gatos (2. ed., pp. 133-146). Rio de Janeiro: Roca.
Andreadis, D., Nomikos, A., Epivatianos, A., Poulopoulos, A., & Barbatis, C. (2005). Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma versus basal cell adenocarcinoma of the oral cavity. Pathology, 37(6), 560-563. http://doi.org/10.1080/00313020500368048. PMid:16373238.
Barron, H. W., Roberts, R. E., Latimer, K. S., Hernandez-Divers, S., & Northrup, N. C. (2009). Tolerance doses of cutaneous and mucosal tissues in ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) for external beam megavoltage radiation. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 23(1), 6-9. http://doi.org/10.1647/2008-012R.1. PMid:19530400.
Batsakis, J. G., & El Naggar, A. (1989). Basaloid-squamous carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tracts. The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 98(11), 919-920. http://doi.org/10.1177/000348948909801116. PMid:2817687.
Beer, T. W., Shepherd, P., & Theaker, J. M. (2000). Ber EP4 and epithelial membrane antigen aid distinction of basal cell, squamous cell and basosquamous carcinomas of the skin. Histopathology, 37(3), 218-223. http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2559.2000.00999.x. PMid:10971697.
Boyd, A. S., Stasko, T. S., & Tang, Y. W. (2011). Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 64(1), 144-151. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2010.02.051. PMid:21167410.
Cooper, D., Schermer, A., & Sun, T. T. (1985). Classification of human epithelia and their neoplasms using monoclonal antibodies to keratins: Strategies, applications, and limitations. Laboratory Investigation, 52(3), 243-256. PMid:2579289.
Filippich, L. J. (2004). Tumor control in birds. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine., 13(1), 25-43. http://doi.org/10.1053/S1055-937X(03)00055-0.
Freeman, K. P., Hahn, K. A., Adams, W. H., Jones, M. P., & Petersen, M. G. (1999). Radiation therapy for hemangiosarcoma in a budgerigar. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 13(1), 40-44.
Ginn, P. E., Mansell, J. E., & Rakich, P. M. (2016). Skin and appendages. In M. G. Maxie (Ed.), Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer’s pathology of domestic animals (6th ed., 726 p.). St. Louis: Elsevier.
Goldschmidt, M. H., & Goldschmidt, K. H. (2017). Epithelial and melanocytic tumors of the skin. In D. J. Meuten (Ed.), Tumors in domestic animals (5th ed.). Iowa: Wiley. Grespan, A., & Freitas Raso, T. (2014). Psittaciformes. In Z. S. Cubas, J. C. Ramos Silva & J. L. Catão-Dias (Eds.), Tratado de animais selvagens (2. ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Roca.
Guthrie, A. L., Gonzalez-Angulo, C., Wigle, W. L., & DeMaar, T. W. (2010). Radiation therapy of a malignant melanoma in a thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 24(4), 299-307. http://doi.org/10.1647/2009-007.1. PMid:21302760.
Huang, P. Y., & Balmain, A. (2014). Modeling cutaneous squamous carcinoma development in the mouse. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 4(9), a013623. http://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a013623. PMid:25183851.
Jones, A. L., Suárez-Bonnet, A., Mitchell, J. A., Ramirez, G. A., Stidworthy, M. F., & Priestnall, S. L. (2020). Avian papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma: A histopathological, immunohistochemical and virological study. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 175, 13-23. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2019.11.007. PMid:32138838.
Klijanienko, J., El-Naggar, A., Ponzio-Prion, A., Marandas, P., Micheau, C., & Caillaud, J. M. (1993). Basaloid squamous carcinoma of the head and neck immunohistochemical comparison with adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery, 119(8), 887-890. http://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1993.01880200093013. PMid:8393682.
Koski, M. A. (2002). Dermatologic diseases in psittacine birds: An investigational approach. Semin Avian Exotic Pet Med., 11(3), 105-124. http://doi.org/10.1053/saep.2002.123981.
Latza, U., Niedobitek, G., Schwarting, R., Nekarda, H., & Stein, H. (1990). Ber-EP4: New monoclonal antibody which distinguishes epithelia from mesothelial. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 43(3), 213-219. http://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.43.3.213. PMid:1692040.
Lin, W. L., Chen, F. L., & Han, C. P. (2011). Anti-cytokeratin CAM5. 2 (BD Biosciences) and CK8 Give no remarkable advantages to the pancytokeratin cocktail of antibodies (AE1/AE3, CAM5. 2, MNF116, CK8, and CK18) in detecting disseminated tumor cells in biologic subtypes of stage I–III breast cancer patients. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 18(3, Suppl 3), 261-262. http://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1419-z. PMid:21125337.
Liu, L. K., Jiang, X. Y., Zhou, X. X., Wang, D. M., Song, X. L., & Jiang, H. B. (2010). Upregulation of vimentin and aberrant expression of E-cadherin/β-catenin complex in oral squamous cell carcinomas: Correlation with the clinicopathological features and patient outcome. Modern Pathology, 23(2), 213-224. http://doi.org/10.1038/modpathol.2009.160. PMid:19915524.
Liu, P. F., Kang, B. H., Wu, Y. M., Sun, J. H., Yen, L. M., Fu, T. Y., Lin, Y. C., Liou, H. H., Lin, Y. S., Sie, H. C., Hsieh, I. C., Tseng, Y. K., Shu, C. W., Hsieh, Y. D., & Ger, L. P. (2017). Ger LP. Vimentin is a potential prognostic factor for tongue squamous cell carcinoma among five epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related proteins. PLoS One, 12(6), e0178581. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178581. PMid:28570699.
Manucy, T. K., Bennett, R. A., Greenacre, C. B., Roberts, R. E., Schumacher, J., & Deem, S. L. (1998). Squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular beak in a Buffon’s macaw (Ara ambigua). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 12(3), 158-166.
Mauldin, E. A., & Peters-Kennedy, J. (2016). Integumentary system. In M. G. Maxie (Ed.), Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer’s pathology of domestic animals (6th ed., 509 p.). St. Louis: Elsevier. http://doi.org/10.1016/ B978-0-7020-5317-7.00006-0.
McKay, M. J., & Bilous, A. M. (1989). Basaloid‐squamous carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Cancer, 63(12), 2528 2531. http://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19890615)63:123.0.CO;2-C. PMid:2655872.
Mleczko, A., Franke, I., Pokrywka, A., Gollnick, H., & Leverkus, M. (2011). BerEP4‐negative basal cell carcinoma on the palm: Case report and review of the literature. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 9(2), 140-143. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1610-0387.2010.07475.x. PMid:20629842.
Mori, E., Grandi, G., Menchetti, M., Tella, J. L., Jackson, H. A., Reino, L., van Kleunen, A., Figueira, R., & Ancillotto, L. (2017). Worldwide distribution of non–native Amazon parrots and temporal trends of their global trade. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 40(1), 49-62. http://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2017.40.0049.
Ono, M., Kijima, H., Seino, H., Hakamada, K., & Igarashi, Y. (2012). Expression of cytokeratin 34βE12 is a good indicator of tumor progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomedical Research, 33(3), 183-189. http://doi.org/10.2220/biomedres.33.183. PMid:22790218.
Raslan, W. F., Barnes, L., Krause, J. R., Contis, L., Killeen, R., & Kapadia, S. B. (1994). Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A clinicopathologic and flow cytometric study of 10 new cases with review of the English literature. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 15(3), 204-211. http://doi.org/10.1016/0196-0709(94)90006-X. PMid:8024109.
Reavill, D. R. (2004). Tumors of pet birds. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Exotic Animal Practice, 7(3), 537-560, v. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2004.04.008. PMid:15296864.
Robat, C. S., Ammersbach, M., & Mans, C. (2017). Avian oncology: Diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Exotic Animal Practice, 20(1), 57-86. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2016.07.009. PMid:27890293.
Sánchez-Godoy, F., Ledesma-Ramírez, I., & Morales-Salinas, E. (2020). A retrospective study of neoplasms in ornamental and pet birds diagnosed at the Hospital de Aves of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2007-2014). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology, 13(1), 1-11. http://doi.org/10.24070/bjvp.1983 0246.v13i1p1-11.
Sciabarrasi, A., Ruíz, M., & Siroski, P. (2019). Valores sanguíneos del loro hablador chaqueño (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx) adulto, en cautiverio en el Centro de Rescate La Esmeralda de la provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina. Ciencias Veterinarias, 37(2), 22-31. http://doi.org/10.15359/rcv.37-2.3.
Shvili, Y., Talmi, Y. P., Gal, R., Kessler, E., Kolkov, Z., & Zohar, Y. (1990). Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of larynx metastatic to the skin of the nasal tip. Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, 18(7), 322-324. http://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-5182(05)80541-4. PMid:2262555.
Sunjaya, A. P., Sunjaya, A. F., & Tan, S. T. (2017). The use of BEREP4 immunohistochemistry staining for detection of basal cell carcinoma. Journal of Skin Cancer, 2017, 2692604. http://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2692604. PMid:29464122.
Tell, L. A., Woods, L., & Mathews, K. G. (1997). Basal cell carcinoma in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva). Avian Diseases, 41(3), 755-759. http://doi.org/10.2307/1592173. PMid:9356728.
Tsang, W. Y. W., Chan, J. K. C., Lee, K. C., Leung, A. K. F., & Fu, Y. T. (1991). Basaloid‐squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and so‐called adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oesophagus: The same tumour type? Histopathology, 19(1), 35-46. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.1991.tb00892.x. PMid:1717358.
Turrel, J. M., McMillan, M. C., & Paul-Murphy, J. (1987). Diagnosis and treatment of tumors of companion birds I. AAV Today, 1(3), 109-116. http://doi.org/10.2307/27670245.
Wain, S. L., Kier, R., Vollmer, R. T., & Bossen, E. H. (1986). Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the tongue, hypopharynx, and larynx: Report of 10 cases. Human Pathology, 17(11), 1158-1166. http://doi.org/10.1016/ S0046-8177(86)80422-1. PMid:3770734.
Wilson, H., Graham, J., Roberts, R., Greenacre, C., & Ritchie, B. (2000). Integumentary neoplasms in psittacine birds: Treatment strategies. In Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 21, 1-214. Zehnder, A., Graham, J., Reavill, D. R., & McLaughlin, A. (2016). Neoplastic diseases in avian species. In B. Speer (Ed.), Current therapy in avian medicine and surgery (p. 107-141). St. Louis: Elsevier
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Joerg Richard Vetter, Leila Gertrudis Maidana, Thalita Evani Silva de Oliveira