143 - Tumor or Hemorrhage?: Differential Diagnosis of an Unknown Mass Within the Brain of a Budgerigar

Poster Board Number: 143
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Abstract Body : Diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) is a technique used to aid in identifying soft-tissue anatomy in post-mortem specimens, beyond what a CT scan alone can show. Here, we report on a previously healthy zoo specimen of an adult budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) found deceased in its enclosure. The cause of death was unknown; the only clue provided was that the specimen may have exhibited neurological problems prior to death. The specimen was obtained with permission from Southwick’s Zoo (Mendon, MA) and imaged twice with computed tomography (CT) at the Harvard University Center for Nanoscale Systems. After the initial baseline scan, the specimen was stained with 2% Lugol’s iodine (I2KI) in order to render the soft tissues visible in CT imaging and subsequently rescanned at the same facility. The iodine staining revealed a large mass that spanned across a majority of the diencephalon, centering on the mid-brain near the left orbital area. This was not previously seen in the non-stained CT scans. Digital segmentation was performed to render the skull, brain, and isolated mass within the brain. Upon investigation of the digital reconstruction, the specimen was found to have an orbital blowout fracture. This finding subsequently led to the mass being identified as a brain hemorrhage in the diencephalon and retrobulbar space. The specimen was then destained with sodium thiosulfate solution and sent to the University of New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Lab to confirm the findings. Histological analysis confirmed the hemorrhage and trauma, finding no evidence of neoplasia, inflammation, or degenerative changes indicative of cancers. We conclude that this specimen ultimately died of head trauma, likely from a collision with a building or window in its enclosure. Head trauma from these types of collisions is common. By utilizing diceCT and digital segmentation software, there is an improved ability to evaluate differential diagnoses necessary to understand manifestations of head traumas.