Case Report of a Mare Diagnosed with a Metastatic Mammary Carcinoma after the Excision of a Recurrent Intraocular Neuroepithelial Tumor.
Abstract: A 24-year-old Irish Cob mare was presented with a peripheral iris mass, which was surgically resected and diagnosed as an undifferentiated neuroepithelial tumor. A few months later, a relapse occurred with histological features characterized by a more solid appearance and squamous differentiation. Subsequently, the mare was presented with rapidly spreading multiple subcutaneous masses and, at the onset of neurological signs, was humanely euthanized and subjected to a complete post mortem examination. The necropsy confirmed the presence of numerous widespread masses in the subcutaneous tissue, several internal organs, and mammary gland. Histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations were performed on all masses, allowing the diagnosis of mammary carcinoma with several visceral and subcutaneous metastases. Considering the post mortem findings, the second intraocular mass was submitted to histological and IHC re-evaluation to differentiate it from an intraocular metastasis of the mammary carcinoma. The results of the histological and IHC analyses confirmed the diagnosis of neuroepithelial tumor relapse. This is the first case of a metastatic mammary carcinoma concurrent with a recurrent intraocular neuroepithelial tumor in a mare. This case was a challenge for both clinicians and pathologists involved and highlighted the importance of post mortem and IHC evaluations.
Publication Date: 2020-12-16 PubMed ID: 33339329PubMed Central: PMC7765899DOI: 10.3390/ani10122409Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper documents an unprecedented case of mammary carcinoma metastasis alongside the recurrence of an intraocular neuroepithelial tumor in a 24-year-old Irish Cob mare, emphasizing the critical role of post mortem examinations and immunohistochemical analysis in accurate diagnosis.
Case Details
- The mare was initially presented with an iris mass. After surgical removal, the mass was diagnosed as an undifferentiated neuroepithelial tumor.
- A few months following the initial diagnosis, a relapse was noted characterized by a more solid appearance and squamous differentiation.
- Subsequently, the mare showed signs of rapidly spreading multiple subcutaneous masses. On developing neurological symptoms, the mare was euthanized.
Post Mortem Examination
- A comprehensive post mortem examination was carried out, which showed extensive widespread masses in the subcutaneous tissue, various internal organs, and the mammary gland.
- Both histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations were carried out on all the masses to facilitate diagnosis.
Diagnosis
- The histological and IHC examinations led to the diagnosis of mammary carcinoma with multiple visceral and subcutaneous metastases.
- Because of the post mortem findings, the second intraocular mass that had developed was subject to a re-evaluation through histological and IHC methods to distinguish whether it was a metastasis of the mammary carcinoma or a recurrence of the neuroepithelial tumor.
- The restudy of the intraocular mass confirmed it as a recurrence of the neuroepithelial tumor rather than being a metastasis of the mammary cancer.
Significance
- This research represents the first document case of concurrent metastatic mammary carcinoma and recurrent intraocular neuroepithelial tumor in a mare, adding new insights to veterinary oncology.
- The study also underlines the crucial role of post mortem analysis, along with immunohistochemical evaluations in achieving accurate diagnoses, thus highlighting the importance of these techniques in veterinary pathology.
Cite This Article
APA
Brocca G, Centelleghe C, Padoan E, Stoppini R, Giudice C, Castagnaro M, Zappulli V.
(2020).
Case Report of a Mare Diagnosed with a Metastatic Mammary Carcinoma after the Excision of a Recurrent Intraocular Neuroepithelial Tumor.
Animals (Basel), 10(12).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122409 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy.
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy.
- Equine Veterinary Practitioner, Chioggia, 30015 Venice, Italy.
- Consultant in Equine Ophthalmology, Lonato del Garda, 25017 Brescia, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Lodi, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy.
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, 35020 Padua, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Ostendarp C, Barton AK. Intraocular Tumors in Horses: Diagnosis, Tumor Classification, Oncologic Assessment and Therapy. Vet Sci 2025 Oct 17;12(10).
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