ABSTRACT

An adult com snake with a prominent mid-body swelling and history of anorexia presented for evaluation. Contrast radiographs were performed which showed a soft tissue opacity, likely an extraluminal mass, that compressed the gastrointestinal tract both ventrally and to the left. Surgical exploration showed a highly vascular, encapsulated, red mass and the mass was removed. Histopathology on the mass showed it to be a splenic hemangiosarcoma. Despite mass removal and aggressive supportive care, the snake died one and a half months later. This is the first report of splenic hemangiosarcoma in any reptile species and expands the list of known differential diagnoses for mid-body swellings in a snake.