PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY WITH INFRACYANINE GREEN (EMUNDO®) FOLLOWING SURGICAL EXCISION OF MULTIPLE CUTANEOUS MELANOCYTIC TUMORS IN A WHITE BENGAL HYBRID TIGER (PANTHERA TIGRIS CROSS)

A white Bengal hybrid tiger (Panthera tigris cross) was presented for a tumor subjacent to the right inferior eyelid. Surgical excision under general anesthesia followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with infracyanine green (EmunDow) was performed. Two months after surgery, a new tumor involving the concave left pinna was noted, and surgical excision followed by PDT was again performed. Healing of both surgical sites was achieved by 37 d postoperatively. Histopathologic review of both masses was consistent with cutaneous melanocytic tumors with complete surgical margins. To the authors' knowledge, PDT is a novel surgical procedure in nondomestic species. Melanocytic tumors may be associated with the uncommon white hair phenotype of Bengal tigers. PDT removes the requirement for wound closure following surgery, provides adjunctive therapy for neoplastic lesions, appears well tolerated, and results in an excellent cosmetic outcome. This case highlights the potential use of this therapy for cutaneous melanoma in captive tigers.