Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

grumpyoldman — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:02:37 GMT

Needs spaying ASAP.

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:11:46 GMT

[quote user="Sheryl Calway"]

I know this patient is deffo a female!!

The ultrasound I carried out didn't reveal the nice black bunch of grapes type appearance I've seen before with these pre-ovulatory follicular stasis cases....hence my confusion over diagnosis.

[/quote]

that makes more sense! Then yes, I'd be opening this case up. If the ultrasound showed only soft tissue densities rather than distinct fluid-filled follicles then the ovaries are likely to be more abnormal with caseation/abscessation rather than simply vitelline accumulation.

Marie

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

Mark Rowland — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 08:59:46 GMT

No those are definitely follicles, the beardie is in follicular stasis, you need to get on and spey her or her condition will deteriorate.

Goodluck

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

Sheryl Calway — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:58:47 GMT

Thanks Gillian and Marie....and massive apologies...of all the situations to write the gender wrong...this wasn't the best...sorry, don't know why I typed 'male'...I know this patient is deffo a female!!

The ultrasound I carried out didn't reveal the nice black bunch of grapes type appearance I've seen before with these pre-ovulatory follicular stasis cases....hence my confusion over diagnosis.

O is reluctant to have surgery unless stasis is certain so we are supplementing vitamin A just now to see if eye improves. The eye doesn't appear as a conjunctivitis in that it is not reddened, just 'puffy' lids and mucus membranes...I wondered if it might be connected in some way to venous congestion...if hypercalcaemia has caused vessels to calcify??? But I realise this may be a bit far-fetched!!!

I guess I'm just uncertain at which point you guys worry when seeing follicles in an apparently well dragon...monitor over few weeks for regression and hope they don't rupture in the interim...or always ovariectomy once follicles are seen to be present...?

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:38:52 GMT

There is certainly an increase of soft tissue in the coelom and I agree with Gillian that there is a scalloped edge and suspicion of follicular accumulation. How has this animal been determined to be male? As it is 6, it should be fairly obvious and if it is clearly male on exam we can rule out follicles!

What did you find on ultrasound (or does the non-confirmation relate to no U/S done so far)? That would be your most valuable diagnostic step prior to ex-lap. Could still be a benign process such as ileus or urolith obstipation, but neoplasia, granuloma/abscess or reproductive pathology (if female) would be high no the list of differentials. Bloods support renal/repro issues as well as effects of known husbandry deficits but don't really narrow down the differentials.

Does the darker appearance of the cranial aspect of the eye correlate with increased vascularisation on exam? The lids appear a little thickened but nothing I would be too concerned about for now given the other issue! Keep SCC (and to a lesser extent microsporidiosis) in the back of your mind if the ocular lesions progress as it is common in this species at this location.

Marie

RE: Am I imagining follicles..??..!!

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 19:56:12 GMT

[quote user="Sheryl Calway"].this 6 year old male bearded dragon[/quote]

[quote user="Sheryl Calway"]Incidentally, I was also suspicious I might be seeing follicles [/quote]

??????

I'm only looking on a phone, but that caudal coelom is very full for a lizard that hasn't been eating!

It certainly could be follicles (assuming female) as the edges look scalloped, but regardless of sex, I suspect I'd be going to an exploratory coeliotomy.

I think the eye changes are probably secondary.