Radiation therapy for hemangiosarcoma in a budgerigar

Abstract

A swelling on the right metacarpal area of a male budgerigar was diagnosed as he- mangiosarcoma. Diagnosis of this malignant endothelial tumor was based on gross and histopath- ologic findings. The bird was treated with local irradiation of the wing three times weekly for a total of 10 400-cGy fractions. The tumor completely regressed after local irradiation and the bud- gerigar tolerated the treatment well; however, the bird died 8 weeks later as a result of disseminated disease. Radiation therapy should be considered as a treatment option in birds with tumors that are unlikely to metastasize or that cannot be completely excised.