SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT
Oncologists help Greenville Zoo flamingo diagnosed with cancer
Several months ago, zoo keeper Ava Baronoski noticed something strange about one of the Chilean flamingos at the Greenville Zoo.
The flamingo, named Finn, had blood present on his right wing.
To assess the area, Finn was captured. Zoo veterinarian Dr. Nikolay Kapustin observed a skin lesion with a bleeding surface initially diagnosed and treated as a wound. When the lesion did not resolve as Kapustin expected, he took a biopsy of the tissue. The biopsy returned as squamous cell carcinoma, a skin tumor that usually stays localized.
After a second biopsy was obtained to confirm the tumor, the zoo contacted Upstate Vet Emergency + Specialty Care oncologists to consult on the case.
“It is rare for SCC to metastasize (’spread’) to other areas or organs. The bird received a thorough examination and no such other tumor sites were identified,” Kapustin said.
Finn’s cancer treatment, ‘companion flamingo’
Oncologist Dr. Nathan Lee, who was the primary on the case, suggested Finn undergo radiation treatment. The treatment would consist of four separate radiation sessions of short duration at weekly intervals under anesthesia. This would kill the cancer cells and allow the body to heal around those cells.
“Tumors in birds of many species do occur but often do not respond well to treatment. We are very pleased that such good response was seen in this flamingo patient to date; such cases present great opportunities to learn more about avian oncology. Much was learned during the management of this case, and more will continue to be learned and shared with our colleagues to potentially contribute to the care of their patients.” Dr. Nikolay Kapustin Zoo veterinarian