Gross, histologic, and ultrastructural features of iridophoromas in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

Pigment-containing and light-reflecting cell neoplasms, generically termed chromatophoromas, affect fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Chromatophoromas of light-reflecting cells are named iridophoromas. In this study, we aimed to describe the gross, histologic, and ultrastructural findings of 71 cases of iridophoromas in farmed Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Macroscopically, iridophoromas appeared as whitish, gray, or black friable masses or plaques in the fin, trunk/tail, or head of the fish. Forty-five tumors (63%) were malignant and invaded the adjacent skeletal muscle and/or metastasized to other organs, whereas 26 (37%) tumors were restricted only to the skin, but due to the cytologic similarity to the malignant counterpart, we were not able to classify them as malignant or benign. Sixty-five (91%) tumors were classified as iridophoromas, whereas 6 (8%) were diagnosed as mixed chromatophoromas. Despite immunolabeling for PNL-2, melan A, or S-100 failing to demonstrate antigen expression, ultrastructural analysis identified light-reflecting neoplastic cells, unequivocally confirming iridophoromas as the predominant tumor. The high incidence of iridophoromas in Siamese fighting fish from the same breeding facility, coupled with a higher occurrence in royal blue and fancy copper color patterns and in young males, suggests a potential genetic/hereditary factor in the tumorigenesis of these neoplasms.