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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Clinical and Pathological Features of Pheochromocytoma in th...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 30(1); 309-313; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13799

Clinical and Pathological Features of Pheochromocytoma in the Horse: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study of 37 Cases (2007-2014).

Abstract: Pheochromocytoma is the most common adrenal medullary neoplasm of domestic animals, but it is rare in horses. Antemortem diagnosis in horses is difficult, with clinical signs often being vague or non-specific. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of pheochromocytoma in horses. Methods: Thirty-seven horses diagnosed with pheochromocytoma based on postmortem examination from 2007 to 2014. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: Pheochromocytoma was identified in 37/4094 horses during postmortem examination. Clinical signs consistent with pheochromocytoma had been observed antemortem in only 7 cases, with the remainder being incidental findings. Colic was the most common presenting complaint (13 of 37 cases) and tachycardia was noted in 95% of cases (median heart rate of 86 bpm in clinical cases). Hyperlactatemia (median, 4.9 mmol/L) and hyperglycemia (median, 184 mg/dL) were the most common clinicopathologic abnormalities. Hemoperitoneum caused by rupture of pheochromocytoma was noted in 4/7 clinical cases. Concurrent endocrine abnormalities (eg, thyroid adenoma, adrenal hyperplasia, pituitary pars intermedia hyperplasia or adenoma, parathyroid C-cell carcinoma) were found in 27/37 horses, with 8/37 horses having lesions consistent with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome as described in humans. Conclusions: Pheochromocytoma was diagnosed in 0.95% of horses presented for necropsy. The majority of these were incidental findings, but pheochromocytoma was thought to contribute to clinical findings in 19% of cases, and multiple endocrine neoplasms were commonly seen. Usually an incidental finding at necropsy, pheochromocytoma may cause acute death from intraperitoneal exsanguination and should be considered in horses presenting with colic, tachycardia, and hemoperitoneum.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-11-27 PubMed ID: 26613683PubMed Central: PMC4913635DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13799Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study focused on the investigation and description of clinical, laboratory, and pathological features of pheochromocytoma, a rare adrenal gland tumour, in horses. The research analysed 37 cases over seven years with findings highlighting symptoms, clinicopathological abnormalities and concurrent diseases.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The primary goal of the investigation was to uncover the clinical, laboratory, and pathological characteristics of pheochromocytoma in horses.
  • Analysis was based on 37 cases diagnosed with pheochromocytoma through postmortem examinations conducted from 2007 to 2014. This retrospective case series was used to draw the observations and conclusions.

Results of the Study

  • Out of 4094 horses examined postmortem, pheochromocytoma was identified in 37 horses, which equals a prevalence rate of 0.95%.
  • Only in 7 cases were clinical signs observed before death, while the rest were incidental findings. This emphasizes the common challenge of diagnosing pheochromocytoma in horses due to its vague and non-specific symptoms.
  • The most common symptom noted before death was colic (in 13 of 37 cases) followed by tachycardia (rapid heart rate), which was observed in 95% of the cases.
  • Common clinicopathologic abnormalities found were hyperlactatemia (an elevated level of lactate in the blood) and hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels).
  • In four out of the seven clinical cases, hemoperitoneum (a condition characterized by the presence of blood in the peritoneal cavity) caused by the rupture of pheochromocytoma was mentioned.
  • 27 out of 37 horses also exhibited concurrent endocrine abnormalities; eight horses displayed features in line with a syndrome called multiple endocrine neoplasia, known in humans.

Conclusions of the Study

  • Pheochromocytoma was diagnosed in less than 1% of horses presented for necropsy. Despite many incidental findings, it was considered that the tumour contributed to clinical findings in 19% of the cases.
  • Pheochromocytoma was usually identified as an incidental finding at necropsy, but its consequences could include severe conditions such as acute death from intraperitoneal exsanguination.
  • The researchers suggested considering pheochromocytoma in cases where horses present symptoms of colic, tachycardia, and hemoperitoneum.

Cite This Article

APA
Luethy D, Habecker P, Murphy B, Nolen-Walston R. (2015). Clinical and Pathological Features of Pheochromocytoma in the Horse: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study of 37 Cases (2007-2014). J Vet Intern Med, 30(1), 309-313. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13799

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 1
Pages: 309-313

Researcher Affiliations

Luethy, D
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA.
Habecker, P
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA.
Murphy, B
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA.
Nolen-Walston, R
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnosis
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology
  • Pheochromocytoma / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Drozdzewska K, Gehlen H. Markers for internal neoplasia in the horse. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):132-143.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.1042pubmed: 36495211google scholar: lookup
  2. Confer A, Owston MA, Kumar S, Dick EJ Jr. Multiple endocrine neoplasia-like syndrome in 24 baboons (Papio spp.). J Med Primatol 2018 Dec;47(6):434-439.
    doi: 10.1111/jmp.12376pubmed: 30256416google scholar: lookup
  3. Samuelson JP, Echeverria KO, Foreman JH, Fredrickson RL, Sauberli D, Whiteley HE. Metastatic myxosarcoma in a Quarter Horse gelding. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Jan;30(1):121-125.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638717719480pubmed: 28677418google scholar: lookup
  4. Fouché N, Gerber V, Gorgas D, Marolf V, Grouzmann E, van der Kolk JH, Navas de Solis C. Catecholamine Metabolism in a Shetland Pony with Suspected Pheochromocytoma and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Nov;30(6):1872-1878.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14606pubmed: 27859749google scholar: lookup
  5. Zorotrian T, Stern AW, Costidis A, Harms CA, Gao H, Fontaine C, Adams HR. Delphinid postmortem vitreous humor biochemistry as proxy for antemortem blood analyte concentrations. Mar Mamm Sci 2025 Jan;41(1).
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