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Journal of the South African Veterinary Association2019; 90; e1-e5; doi: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1708

Erythrocytosis and fatigue fractures associated with hepatoblastoma in a 3-year-old gelding.

Abstract: Hepatoblastoma was diagnosed in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with forelimb lameness with bilateral fatigue fractures of the proximal third metacarpal bones. An abdominal mass was detected on ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Absolute erythrocytosis was diagnosed after clinical and haematological evaluation. The fractured metacarpal bones were surgically removed but complications after surgery were fatal. The liver mass was diagnosed as a hepatoblastoma based on histology and immunochemical staining. The combination of hepatoblastoma and fatigue fractures has not been described previously in horses. A potential link between the hepatic and orthopaedic pathologies is hypothesised.
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Publication Date: 2019-03-28 PubMed ID: 31038324PubMed Central: PMC6556709DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1708Google 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 case study reports about a 3-year-old racehorse that was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare type of liver cancer, which was accompanied by an unusual occurrence of erythrocytosis (excess red blood cells) and bilateral fatigue fractures in its metacarpal bones. The horse unfortunately did not survive post-operation complications. This particular combination of liver cancer and fractures has not been previously reported in equine medicine, suggesting a potential link between liver and orthopedic disorders.

Case Overview

  • The patient of the case study was a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, a breed mainly used for racing, who was reported to have forelimb lameness. Lameness was caused by bilateral fatigue fractures in the horse’s proximal third metacarpal bones, essentially the bones in its front legs.
  • During the initial examination for the lameness, an abdominal mass was discovered through an ultrasound scan — a tool often used to visualize internal body structures.
  • Further clinical and haematological evaluations revealed an instance of absolute erythrocytosis, a condition of having abnormally high levels of red blood cells.

Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention

  • The fractured metacarpal bones were surgically removed as part of the treatment. However, the horse was unable to recover from the operation. It developed complications that eventually resulted in its demise.
  • Post-mortem examination of the aforementioned abdominal mass revealed it to be a hepatoblastoma. This was concluded based on histology, the study of the microscopic structure of tissues, and immunochemical staining, a technique used to detect specific components in cells or tissues.

Insights from the Case

  • This case portrays a previously unreported correlation between hepatoblastoma and fatigue fractures in horses. The study authors hypothesize a possible link between hepatic (liver-related) and orthopaedic pathologies that could have contributed to both the ailments.
  • The horse’s erythrocytosis is also an atypical symptom related to hepatoblastoma, hinting at a complex interaction of disorders in the case.
  • This study offers valuable insights for veterinarians dealing with similar cases in the future and paves the way for further research into these interconnected pathologies.

Cite This Article

APA
Tirosh-Levy S, Perl S, Valentine BA, Kelmer G. (2019). Erythrocytosis and fatigue fractures associated with hepatoblastoma in a 3-year-old gelding. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 90, e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1708

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 2224-9435
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 90
Pages: e1-e5
PII: 1708

Researcher Affiliations

Tirosh-Levy, Sharon
  • Department of Large Animal Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot. sharontirosh@gmail.com.
Perl, Shmuel
    Valentine, Beth A
      Kelmer, Gal

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Fatal Outcome
        • Fractures, Spontaneous / etiology
        • Fractures, Spontaneous / pathology
        • Fractures, Spontaneous / veterinary
        • Hepatoblastoma / complications
        • Hepatoblastoma / diagnosis
        • Hepatoblastoma / pathology
        • Hepatoblastoma / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Liver Neoplasms / complications
        • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
        • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
        • Liver Neoplasms / veterinary
        • Male
        • Metacarpal Bones / pathology
        • Polycythemia / etiology
        • Polycythemia / veterinary

        Conflict of Interest Statement

        The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 1 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
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