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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Epibulbar melanoma in a foal.
Veterinary ophthalmology2008; 11 Suppl 1(Suppl 1); 44-50; doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00637.x

Epibulbar melanoma in a foal.

Abstract: A case of epibulbar melanoma in a 6-month-old, gelded, chestnut Hanoverian foal is reported. The location and clinical appearance upon initial presentation led to the tentative diagnosis of staphyloma or a congenital mass of unknown origin. An attempt was made to surgically excise the mass under general anesthesia, but due to its infiltrative nature and intraoperative appearance, most, but not all was removed without compromising the integrity of the globe. Histopathological evaluation revealed a multinodular to packeted, poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative exophytic melanocytic neoplasm composed of bundles and nests of plump spindloid to polygonal heavily pigmented epithelioid neoplastic cells interspersed with pigment-laden macrophages within a fine fibrovascular stroma. Upon examination after enucleation, neoplastic cells were found to infiltrate into the lateral cornea, sclera and the choroid. This is a unique case of an epibulbar melanoma with choroidal invasion in a foal. Based on the sudden onset and rapid growth as well as the histological evidence of invasion, well-differentiated features, heavy pigmentation, and no apparent mitoses, this neoplasm was considered to be a low-grade malignant melanoma. At 14 months after excision there is no evidence of recurrence.
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Publication Date: 2008-12-17 PubMed ID: 19046269PubMed Central: PMC3175607DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00637.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article describes a unique case of eye melanoma, specifically epibulbar melanoma, in a 6-month-old foal. The melanoma was diagnosed via a combination of surgical examination and histopathological evaluation and despite its malignant nature and infiltrative behavior, there was no recurrence 14 months after excision.

Introduction

  • The research paper details the diagnosis and treatment of a case of epibulbar melanoma in a 6-month-old, gelded, chestnut Hanoverian foal.
  • This case is notable due to its unique nature. Epibulbar melanomas are rare, and this case is further complicated by the young age of the animal and the melanoma’s aggressive development and growth.

Initial Diagnosis

  • Upon initial presentation, the melanoma’s location and clinical appearance initially led to the suspicion of staphyloma or a congenital mass of unknown origin.
  • It was decided to attempt surgical removal of the mass under general anesthesia.

Surgical Intervention

  • During the excision, it was observed that the mass was infiltrative in nature and given its intraoperative appearance, only most parts of the mass could be safely removed without harming the globe’s integrity.
  • Post operative, histopathological evaluation revealed the mass to be a melanocytic neoplasm, a type of cancer composed of melanin-producing cells.
  • This neoplasm was identified as immature, growing out of control, and forming bundles and nests of heavily pigmented neoplastic cells within a delicate fibrovascular stroma, a supportive network of blood vessels and connective tissues.
  • The neoplastic cells were also found to infiltrate into the lateral cornea, sclera and the choroid regions of the eye.

Final Assessment

  • The final diagnosis confirmed the mass as a low-grade malignant melanoma due to its unexpected onset, rapid growth, well differentiated features, heavy pigmentation, and the absence of mitoses, which is a process where a single cell divides to produce two identical cells.
  • This is a unusual case of an epibulbar melanoma with choroidal invasion (penetration into the vascular layer of the eye) in a foal.

Follow-up and Outcomes

  • 14 months after the surgical excision, there was no evidence of the melanoma recurring.
  • This suggests the treatment was successful, despite the complex nature of the neoplasm and its aggressive growth pattern.

Cite This Article

APA
McMullen RJ, Clode AB, Pandiri AK, Malarkey DE, Michau TM, Gilger BC. (2008). Epibulbar melanoma in a foal. Vet Ophthalmol, 11 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00637.x

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11 Suppl 1
Issue: Suppl 1
Pages: 44-50

Researcher Affiliations

McMullen, Richard J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Clode, Alison B
    Pandiri, Arun Kumar R
      Malarkey, David E
        Michau, Tammy Miller
          Gilger, Brian C

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Animals, Newborn
            • Choroid Neoplasms / pathology
            • Choroid Neoplasms / surgery
            • Choroid Neoplasms / veterinary
            • Eye Enucleation / methods
            • Eye Enucleation / veterinary
            • Eye Neoplasms / pathology
            • Eye Neoplasms / surgery
            • Eye Neoplasms / veterinary
            • Horse Diseases / pathology
            • Horse Diseases / surgery
            • Horses
            • Limbus Corneae
            • Macrophages / pathology
            • Male
            • Melanoma / pathology
            • Melanoma / surgery
            • Melanoma / veterinary
            • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / pathology
            • Treatment Outcome

            Grant Funding

            • Z99 ES999999 / Intramural NIH HHS

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 3 times.
            1. Ostendarp C, Barton AK. Intraocular Tumors in Horses: Diagnosis, Tumor Classification, Oncologic Assessment and Therapy. Vet Sci 2025 Oct 17;12(10).
              doi: 10.3390/vetsci12101006pubmed: 41150147google scholar: lookup
            2. Labelle AL, Gemensky Metzler AM, McMullen RJ Jr, Wiggans KT, Labelle P, Hamor RE. Equine intraocular melanocytic neoplasia. Can Vet J 2024 Oct;65(10):1048-1054.
              pubmed: 39355695
            3. Dos Santos da Luz JC, Claudia Voges A, Guariglia D'Agostino L. Adjuvant electrochemotherapy of malignant ocular melanoma in a dog. Vet Res Forum 2023;14(10):575-578.
              doi: 10.30466/vrf.2023.1983391.3721pubmed: 37901350google scholar: lookup
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