Fibrossarcoma in a jaguar (Panthera onca): thermography associated with aspiration cytology as diagnostic tools

Infrared thermography is a safe and non-invasive method of research used to aid the diagnosis of inflammation, infectious diseases and muscle damage, as well as in reproductive control. The images captured by thermography convert infrared radiation emanating from the body in a temperature gradient, represented by a pattern of visible colors. Aspiration cytology, on the other hand, is an easily applicable research tool that offers excellent preliminary results and directs the clinical case towards a diagnosis. A male jaguar (Panthera onca) presenting a tumor in the abdominal region was examined with the aid of a thermal imager and later a fine needle aspiration cytology was performed. These methods disclosed a mesenchymal malignant neoplasm; later histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of fibrosarcoma. The combination of thermography with fine needle aspiration cytology provided excellent results, showing efficiency, speed and convenience as a diagnostic aid.