Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Reptile Tumors with Emphasis on Chromatophoroma in Leopard Geckos

Abstract

Reptile neoplasia is increasingly recognized in clinical practice; however, available evidence remains limited and is largely derived from case reports and small retrospective studies. Among these, pigment cell tumors (chromatophoromas) are of particular interest due to their variable presentation and species-specific associations, especially in leopard geckos. This review summarizes current knowledge on the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of reptile tumors, with an emphasis on chromatophoromas. Diagnostic approaches, including imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, are outlined with consideration of their applicability and limitations in reptiles. Management strategies are discussed with a focus on surgical excision as the primary intervention, while other therapies are interpreted in the context of limited evidence. Recent findings related to SPINT1-associated chromatophoroma in leopard geckos are presented as a species- and morph-specific observation. Molecular mechanisms described in other species are included as comparative references but should be interpreted with caution. Overall, this review provides a clinically oriented summary of current evidence and highlights existing gaps that warrant further investigation.