Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Mar 2010

Bilateral Exophthalmos in an Adult Iguana (Iguana iguana) Caused by an Orbital Abscess

DVM, MS, DABVP (ECM),
DVM, PhD, DECVS, DECVO, and
MS, DVM
Page Range: 5 – 10
DOI: 10.5818/1529-9651-20.1.5
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Keywords: abscess; exophthalmus; CT scan; Iguana iguana ; orbital lesion
Copyright: © 2010 The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Severe bilateral exophthalmia was noted on the initial exam of this iguana.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

A dorsoventral survey radiograph of the skull taken one week prior to the CT scan. Note that the extent of the lesion is not apparent in this view.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

The ocular ultrasound exam of both eyes was unremarkable. Note the conus papillaris, which is a normal feature of the lizard eye. It is believed that it is the reptilian homolog of the avian pecten oculi.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

The effect of the mass on retro-orbital blood flow was evident during the Doppler flow ultrasound exam.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

A slice of the CT scan at the midlevel of the eyes. Note the mass on the left side (right side of the image) and how it erodes the pterygoid bone (arrows show extent).

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

A 3-D reconstruction of the iguana skull illustrating the destruction of the hard palate (arrows).

Figure 7.
Figure 7.

The clinical appearance of the mass (arrows).

Figure 8.
Figure 8.

The incision site after the surgical biopsy of the mass and removal of the affected tissue.

Figure 9.
Figure 9.

Clinical appearance of the animal 18 hours after the surgery. Note the significant reduction in the exophthalmia compared to Figure 1.

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