Cutaneous schwannomas in 22 horses.
Abstract: Schwannomas are uncommonly recognized in horses. This study describes cutaneous schwannomas in 22 horses aged 8 to 25 years: 12 male, 7 female, and 3 of unknown sex. The horses had solitary cutaneous masses: 9 on the head, 3 on the neck, and the others on the shoulder, hip, thorax, abdomen, rump, extremities, or tail. The location of 1 tumor was unknown. The dermal tumors were well demarcated and expansile. Twelve had a multinodular pattern, whereas 10 formed a single nodule. Antoni A areas were observed in all tumors, and 10 tumors contained Antoni B areas. In Antoni A areas, the densely packed spindle-shaped neoplastic cells were arranged in short fascicles with nuclear palisading. In the hypocellular Antoni B areas, neoplastic cells were separated by abundant myxomatous stroma. Tumors commonly had hyalinization of stroma and vessel walls and ancient change. Cellular vacuolation was observed in 18 tumors. In all 22 cases, neoplastic cells were immunopositive for S100 protein. Expression of laminin and glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in all 6 tumors evaluated by immunohistochemistry for these markers. One tumor was examined ultrastructurally: Neoplastic cells had branched cytoplasmic processes and were surrounded by an external lamina. Follow-up information was available 8 months to 10 years postexcision for 9 horses, for which surgical excision of the tumor was curative. The equine cutaneous schwannomas in this study had microscopic features like those of human schwannoma and had benign clinical behavior. Correct classification of equine cutaneous schwannoma will facilitate accurate prognosis and appropriate treatment.
Publication Date: 2010-08-17 PubMed ID: 20716761DOI: 10.1177/0300985810377072Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper talks about a study conducted to examine schwannomas, rare tumour types, found in the skin (cutaneous schwannomas) of 22 horses aged between 8 to 25 years.
Sample Overview
- The study involved individual examination of 22 horses showcasing solitary dermal tumour masses. The sample comprises 12 male, 7 female and 3 horses of unknown sex.
- These cutaneous growths were found in different parts of the horses’ bodies, including the head, neck, shoulder, hip, thorax, abdomen, rump, extremities, and tail. The location of one tumour was unknown.
Tumour Characteristics
- The detailed study of the tumours revealed that they were well-defined and expansive in nature.
- Of these, 12 tumours displayed a multinodular pattern, while 10 presented as a single nodule.
- All tumours showed Antoni A areas, compact regions where tumor cells (neoplastic cells) are densely packed. Ten of these tumours also had Antoni B areas, which are less cellular regions, with neoplastic cells separated by ample myxomatous stroma.
- Most of the tumours had hyalinization of stroma and vessel walls, a change that signifies accumulated damage over time, known as an ‘ancient change’. Cellular vacuolation or the formation of voids in cells was observed in 18 of the tumours.
Immunohistochemistry and Ultrastructure
- All the tumours tested positive for the S100 protein through immunohistochemistry. This protein is often found in cells derived from the neural crest, thus confirming the identity of the tumours as schwannomas.
- Additionally, the expression of laminin and glial fibrillary acidic protein, brands of cells’ filamentous structure, were observed in all 6 tumours that were examined with immunohistochemistry for these markers.
- An ultrastructural examination of one of these tumours revealed that the neoplastic cells had branched cytoplasmic processes and were surrounded by an external lamina, consistent with the features of schwannomas.
Treatment and Prognosis
- Follow-up information was available for 9 horses from a period of 8 months to 10 years post-excision of the tumours. For these horses, surgical removal of the tumour appeared to have cured the condition entirely.
- The researchers concluded that the equine cutaneous schwannomas displayed microscopic features and benign clinical behavior similar to human schwannomas. By correctly identifying equine cutaneous schwannoma, the study helps in facilitating accurate prognosis and suggesting appropriate treatment options.
Cite This Article
APA
Schöniger S, Valentine BA, Fernandez CJ, Summers BA.
(2010).
Cutaneous schwannomas in 22 horses.
Vet Pathol, 48(2), 433-442.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985810377072 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Disease, Royal Veterinary College, Herts AL9 7TA, UK. sschoeniger@rvc.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Laminin / metabolism
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / veterinary
- Neurilemmoma / pathology
- Neurilemmoma / veterinary
- Skin Neoplasms / pathology
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Armando F, Pigoli C, Gambini M, Ghidelli A, Ghisleni G, Corradi A, Passeri B, Caniatti M, Grieco V, Baumgärtner W, Puff C. Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors Resembling Human Atypical Neurofibroma in Goldfish (Carassius auratus, Linnaeus, 1758). Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 7;11(9).
- Poore LA, Duncan N, Williams J. Unilateral subcutaneous fibroma in the distal femoral region of a 5-year-old Nooitgedacht mare. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2018 Dec 5;89(0):e1-e4.
- Grosås S, Østevik L, Revold T, Ottesen N, Ropstad EO. Uveal myxoid leiomyosarcoma in a horse. Clin Case Rep 2017 Nov;5(11):1811-1818.
- Hayes DA, Kunde DA, Taylor RL, Pyecroft SB, Sohal SS, Snow ET. ERBB3: A potential serum biomarker for early detection and therapeutic target for devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1). PLoS One 2017;12(6):e0177919.
- Boonsriroj H, Kimitsuki K, Akagi T, Park CH. Malignant epithelioid schwannoma of the oral cavity in a cat. J Vet Med Sci 2014 Jun;76(6):927-30.
- Pavarini SP, Gomes DC, Bandinelli MB, Wouters F, Sonne L, Driemeier D, Farias da Cruz CE. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor as a cause of chronic cardiac insufficiency in cattle. Acta Vet Scand 2013 Jan 31;55(1):7.
- Miller AD, Baitchman EJ, Masek-Hammerman K. Multiple endocardial neurofibromas in a rosy-billed pochard (Netta peposaca). J Vet Diagn Invest 2012 Mar;24(2):408-11.
- Barro MV, Herford JD, Garzel LM, Chu P, Reader JR. Spontaneous Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour in a Captive Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta). J Med Primatol 2025 Oct;54(5):e70031.
- Patchett AL, Flies AS, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Curse of the devil: molecular insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020 Jul;77(13):2507-2525.
- Hanna FY. Primary brachial plexus neoplasia in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2013 Apr;15(4):338-44.
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