Big Lump - fast growth

[biccio]

Hi All,

Last time this forum helped Ivory to survive and live a decent life till Friday. We noticed she had a lump behind her neck, but it was stable and it did not seem to create problems till this last Friday, when the lump almost doubled and got outside of the feathers (there seem to be some other damages around the area).

So today I brought her to the avian vet, and they don't really know what that is. They assumed was some sort of liquid accumulation, but trying to drain with a syringe did nothing. They offer to do a surgical removal/intervention, but I thought to take some time and ask here first.I did not dare to touch it, but when they tried to drain it from the top, it started bleeind. When tried from the bottom, it did nothing. So..it is still there (I am guessing it is not a cyst).

Any idea? What should I do? She had a lot of trouble..but I think she can still live a happy life next to her sister with some assistance from me and my wife.

Thanks for the help...I hope I can save her again with your support.[album][/album]

[MiaCarter]

That's very odd.

Just looking at it visually, I'd have guessed cyst or feather cyst. But it sounds like that's unlikely based on what your vet said.

When they attempted to drain it, did they only use a syringe? Or did they use a scalpel to make a tiny slice?

I ask because some cysts are comprised of sebum and keratin (oil and skin cells), which combine to make a thick "paste" that doesn't always come out via a fine needle aspiration. It's too thick to get pulled into the needle. To get the material out, you need to make a good sized slice.
But any [good] vet should know that.

Did they put a sample under the microscope to see what's lurking in there on a cellular level?

Did they give her any medications?

Personally, if this was my bird, I'd let it hang out for a bit, providing it's not causing any problems with breathing, eating, flying, etc.
If may disappear as quickly as it arose.

If it doesn't disappear or gets larger (esp. if it's posing some sort of problem for her), I'd get it surgically excised.

[biccio]

Hi Mia,

Thank you for the fast reply!

They did put it under the microscope, but they did not see anything. I am leaning toward to leave it in peace for now, but I will look for another avian vet in the area. It does look like a cyst, but it grew a lot in just 1-2 days.

They just tried with a syringe..they offered to open and remove it surgically, but I did not see them very up to the task..so I preferred to pass.

It does not bother her too much, but I feel the lump is stopping her to move. She move a lot less now that she has that lump on her back. It seems her wings are kind of blocked from the lump.

[MiaCarter]

Is the lump or surrounding area warm?
Or red? Any obvious signs of an infection?
If so, I'd see about treating her with antibiotics to see if it recedes. In fact, since you just saw the vet, I might even call back and ask about whether they feel a round of antibiotics could be beneficial.
They shouldn't need to see her again (especially if you indicate that her condition is the same). But if you do this, I'd call straight away. If too much time elapses, they may not feel comfortable recommending anything without a re-visit.

See, fast growth would be really consistent with a cyst. They tend to arise and grow very quickly.
There are a handful of tumors (primarily malignancies) that can grow very quickly, but they're relatively uncommon and rather distinctive too. Virtually all would have a very different presentation from a cyst.

If you have a bad feeling about this vet, I'd definitely find another.
Always follow your gut in that regard.

Removal should be quite straightforward.
Just keep in mind that the larger it gets, the more complex removal becomes.

I'm a bit unsettled that they didn't give you any real diagnosis or insight. They should have seen something if they put it under a microscope. If it was just liquid, it should have drained. (I mean, looking at the photo, it looks like it's filled with liquid).

If it was an actual mass, they should have gotten something on the fine needle aspiration. Maybe nothing obvious to the eye, but something visible under the microscope.

I'd feel more comfortable leaving it if we knew it wasn't inherently harmful, you know?

Have you seen any changes in the past day or so?

[lovezebs]

biccio
Poor birdie. Have never seen anything like that on a bird, but my little dog had something like that on top of her head a couple of years ago. Our vet literally just cut it off, cleaned it up and cauterized it. That was that. Sample came back as nothing to worry about. The little sore healed and never came back again.
Wish you good luck with this. I hope things will get better.

~Elana~