Liposarcoma in a Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix): A Case Report

Liposarcoma is a rare malignant soft tissue tumour and it has only been occasionally reported in birds such as goose, parrot and falcon. We present a case of unusual liposarcoma located near the uropygial gland in 2-year-old female common quail (Coturnix coturnix). Such cases are rarely documented, emphasizing the importance of understanding their clinical presentation, diagnosis and management.

A 2-year-old female common quail was presented for a veterinary examination because of an abdominal mass that the owner reported grew quickly. The mass recurred within 3 months despite surgical excision in another clinic before, and prompted a secondary assessment. Examination of the prodorsal region revealed a firm, subcutaneous mass. Blood tests were indicative of an inflammatory response with increased neutrophils and a decrease in lymphocytes, while biochemical profiles showed signs of the hypoproteinaemia with low albumin levels and a hypocalcaemia-all likely secondary to the chronic burden associated with the tumour. Necropsy and histopathology identified a 3.5 cm liposarcoma of neoplastic, lipid-rich cells with well-defined morphological characteristics, including polygonal forms and fibrovascular stroma. The diagnosis of a well-differentiated liposarcoma was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining for Vimentin and S-100 markers.

Management of liposarcomas in avian patients is often difficult, due to limited established treatments for liposarcomas in avian cases; surgical excision remains the primary approach despite high recurrence rates. This case highlights the value of histopathology and immunohistochemistry as tools to distinguish between liposarcoma and other similar lesions in birds; additionally, it emphasizes the need for more investigation to develop successful therapeutic protocols in avian oncology.