Adenocarcinoma of intestinal origin in a horse: diagnosis by abdominocentesis and laparoscopy.

The research article discusses a rare case of intestinal adenocarcinoma in a horse, diagnosed through abdominocentesis and laparoscopy. The study also outlines the horse’s symptoms, clinical examinations and the medical interventions carried out.

Introduction

• This portion of the article establishes the rarity of intestinal adenocarcinoma in domestic animals, particularly in horses. The paper points out that lymphosarcoma and gastric squamous cell carcinoma are, however, relatively common in horses.
• The authors also discuss the findings from several surveys of tumours in Equidae, none of which recorded cases of intestinal adenocarcinomata.
• The article then references two specific instances of adenocarcinoma, one a mucus-secreting variant in the caecum and the other in the colon, and highlights the fact that pancreatic adenocarcinoma can also occur in horses.
• The authors note the potential confusion between intestinal adenocarcinomata and mesotheliomas, tumours of the serous membranes, emphasizing the importance of careful histological examination to differentiate between the two.

The Case Study

• This section provides details of the horse afflicted with the intestinal adenocarcinoma. The symptoms presented were depression, lethargy, anorexia, fever, and unusually soft faeces. Despite treatment, these symptoms persisted.
• In addition to being overweight, the horse was also noted to have an abnormally large volume of abdominal fluid and several small nodules in its abdomen.

Clinical Examination

• Upon further examination, the horse’s vital signs appeared normal, and its haematology and blood chemistry values were within the typical range.
• The horse was subject to an abdominocentesis, a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the abdominal wall and the spine. This procedure revealed additional diagnostic information, which pointed towards a diagnosis of neoplasia.
• The nodules which were earlier palpated in the rectal examination were thought to be associated with the peritoneum and areolar tissue connecting the dorsal and ventral colon. This information alludes to the metastatic nature of the underlying adenocarcinoma.
• Subsequent laparoscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of an abdominal neoplastic disease by revealing the presence of metastatic tumours on the serosal surfaces of the abdomen.