Cutaneous hemangiosarcoma in a buff-throated saltator (Saltator maximus) with lung metastasis

Hemangiosarcomas are malignant neoplasms arising from endothelial cells of blood vessels. A three-year-old male buff-throated saltator (Saltator maximus) was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (HV-UFPB) due to a recurrent tan nodular mass in the pericloacal region. Surgery for excision of the mass was attempted but the bird died during the surgical procedure. The nodule and the carcass were sent for gross and histological evaluation. Histopathology revealed large blood-filled vascular spaces lined by pleomorphic endothelial cells, which were also observed in the lungs. These findings suggested the diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma that was confirmed by immunohistochemistry against factor VIII-related antigen.