Glomus tumours in the skin and subcutis of three horses.
Abstract: Three horses presented with variably painful, nonulcerated masses of the head or neck that were diagnosed as glomus tumours. Grossly, they were fleshy, pink to tan masses ranging from 0.4 to 9 cm in diameter, involving either the deep dermis and subcutis or the subcutis and underlying skeletal muscle. Microscopically, neoplastic epithelioid cells were arranged in sheets, cords and packets within lobules. The neoplastic cells frequently abutted and formed nodular bulges into large endothelium-lined vascular spaces, especially around the tumour periphery. Large nerve branches were associated with each tumour. As determined by immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells consistently expressed α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and some cells in two of the cases expressed desmin. A laminin- or collagen IV-positive basement membrane was demonstrated around individual tumour cells or small groups of cells in all three cases. Morphological features and immunohistochemistry supported the diagnosis of glomus tumour, most consistent with the solid type in humans. Applying a classification system used in humans, two of these tumours met criteria of malignancy (glomangiosarcomas). One horse was euthanized due to complications associated with recurrence and treatment-related necrosis and secondary infection.
© 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 ESVD and ACVD.
Publication Date: 2011-01-11 PubMed ID: 21223382DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00949.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper documents the occurrence of glomus tumours, a type of skin cancer, in three horses. The scientists diagnosed, analyzed the tumours microscopically and immunohistochemically, and concluded that two of them met the criteria for malignant tumours while the third horse was euthanized due to complications associated with treatment and recurrence of the tumour.
Clinical Presentation of Tumours
- The tumours were depicted as variably painful, nonulcerated masses located on the horses’ head or neck.
- The size of the tumours ranged from 0.4 to 9 cm in diameter.
- Upon examination, the tumours were found to involve deep dermis and subcutis or the subcutis and underlying skeletal muscle.
- The structures within the tumour included neoplastic epithelioid cells arranged in sheets, cords, and packets. These cells frequently formed nodular bulges into large vascular spaces, especially around the tumour periphery.
- In every case, large nerve branches were found connected with these tumours.
Microscopic Analysis
- Immunohistochemical analysis was used to classify the tumour cells. The tumour cells expressed α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, proteins that are typically found in mammalian cells.
- The tumour cells from two out of the three cases also expressed desmin, which is another protein found in the cells of vertebrates.
- The researchers also found a laminin- or collagen IV-positive basement membrane around individual tumour cells or small groups of cells in all three cases, which supports being of mesenchymal origin, a feature common in glomus tumours.
Diagnosis
- Putting together the morphological appearance and protein expression, the researchers then subsequently diagnosed these tumours as glomus tumours, specifically referring to the solid type often found in human beings.
- Applying the human classification system, two of these tumours met criteria for being malignant, hence were classified as glomangiosarcomas.
- One of the horses had to be euthanized due to complications associated with the tumour’s recurrence and subsequent treatment-related necrosis and infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Burns RE, Pesavento PA, McElliott VR, Ortega J, Affolter VK.
(2011).
Glomus tumours in the skin and subcutis of three horses.
Vet Dermatol, 22(2), 225-231.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00949.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Wildlife Disease Laboratories, San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego, CA 92112, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Glomus Tumor / diagnosis
- Glomus Tumor / surgery
- Glomus Tumor / veterinary
- Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
- Head and Neck Neoplasms / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Skin Neoplasms / surgery
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Conte A, Scurrell E, Baines SJ. Glomus cell tumour on the head of a cat. JFMS Open Rep 2018 Jul-Dec;4(2):2055116918801033.
- Horiuchi N, Komagata M, Shitamura K, Chiba S, Matsumoto K, Inokuma H, Matsui T, Kobayashi Y. Glomus tumor of the liver in a cow. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Jun;77(6):729-32.
- Castellano L, Fews D. Glomus tumour of the abdominal wall in a cat. JFMS Open Rep 2025 Jan-Jun;11(1):20551169251332395.
- Nagashima T, Kishi C, Machida Y, Michishita M. Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma arising from the ocular region in a dog. Vet Res Forum 2024;15(5):257-260.
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