Plattenepithelkarzinom bei einem doppelhornvogel (buceros bicornis)

The case report describes a squamous cell carcinoma of the casque of the upper beak of a 35-year-old female Greater Indian hornbill. The initial lesion consisted of an ulcer at the rostral aspect of the casque but the animal was clinically normal in all other respects. Increasing radiodensity of the normally air-filled sinus of the casque and repeated examination of biopsy material with isolation of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp., Gliocladium sp. und Chrysosporium sp. and histopathological evidence of cellular polymorphism and invasiveness led to the preliminary diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma with an opportunistic mixed bacterial and fungal infection. The bird was euthanized approximately 10 months after the initial presentation for progression of the lesion and clinical deterioration with pathological and histopathological documentation of the case. Metastases were not found at necropsy.