ABSTRACT

An adult female desert rosy boa, Lichanura trivirgata gracia, presented with clinical signs of intermittent, fluctuant swellings in the middle third of the body. The swellings, present over a three-year period, did not adversely affect the animal's health. Radiographs showed radiopaque masses of soft tissue density that were extraintestinal based upon endoscopy and barium enterogram. Ultrasonography confirmed that the masses were fluid-filled. Aspirated fluid was sterile and contained epithelial and a few inflammatory cells. Exploratory laparotomy revealed three multiloculated cystic masses associated with the liver. The masses were diagnosed histologically as biliary cysts. Due to the lack of adverse clinical signs, benign nature of the cysts, and potential for surgical complications due to extensive involvement of the liver, periodic drainage was elected for management. This is the first report of biliary cysts in snakes, and biliary cysts should be considered as a differential diagnosis in snakes with fluctuant mid-body swellings.