Analyze Diet
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2006; 22(3); 799-817; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2006.08.008

Granulosa cell tumors of the equine ovary.

Abstract: The granulosa cell tumor is the most common ovarian tumor in mares. A clinical diagnosis can be made based on the presence ofa unilaterally enlarged ovary and a small inactive contralateral ovary. Endocrine testing may be beneficial to confirm a diagnosis. Surgical removal of the tumor eliminates the adverse effect on pituitary function and results in resumption of follicular development and ovulation in the opposite ovary over time.
Publication Date: 2006-11-30 PubMed ID: 17129804DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2006.08.008Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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 article discusses granulosa cell tumors, the most prevalent type of ovarian tumor in mares, with emphasis on its diagnosis, the role of endocrine testing, and the effects of surgical removal.

Diagnosis of Granulosa Cell Tumors

  • This research highlights that granulosa cell tumors are the most frequently occurring type of ovarian tumor in mares.
  • Clinical diagnosis can be determined if a mare presents with one enlarged ovary and one small inactive contralateral ovary. This observation suggests that the tumor is usually unilateral, affecting one ovary while rendering the other inactive.

The Role of Endocrine Testing

  • The paper also discusses the potential benefits of endocrine testing in confirming the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors. Endocrine testing primarily checks the levels of various hormones in the body, which may be abnormal in the presence of a tumor in the endocrine glands like the ovary.
  • Though not specifically explained in the abstract, it can be inferred that the changes in hormone levels that would be detected through endocrine testing can provide stronger evidence for the presence of an ovarian tumor.

Surgical Removal and its Effects

  • The study points out that surgical removal of the tumor can eliminate its adverse effect on pituitary function. This implies that these tumors, when present, can disrupt normal functioning of the pituitary gland, likely due to the hormonal imbalances caused by the tumor.
  • The operation also allows for the resumption of follicular development and ovulation in the opposite ovary over time. This means that once the tumor is removed, the unaffected ovary can regain its functionality, allowing the mare to resume normal ovulation cycles.

Cite This Article

APA
McCue PM, Roser JF, Munro CJ, Liu IK, Lasley BL. (2006). Granulosa cell tumors of the equine ovary. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 22(3), 799-817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2006.08.008

Publication

ISSN: 1558-4224
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Pages: 799-817

Researcher Affiliations

McCue, Patrick M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. pmccue@colostate.edu
Roser, Janet F
    Munro, Coralie J
      Liu, Irwin K M
        Lasley, Bill L

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Diagnosis, Differential
          • Female
          • Granulosa Cell Tumor / diagnosis
          • Granulosa Cell Tumor / physiopathology
          • Granulosa Cell Tumor / surgery
          • Granulosa Cell Tumor / veterinary
          • Hormones / blood
          • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
          • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
          • Horse Diseases / surgery
          • Horses
          • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
          • Ovarian Neoplasms / physiopathology
          • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
          • Ovarian Neoplasms / veterinary

          References

          This article includes 95 references

          Citations

          This article has been cited 10 times.
          1. Derar D, Ali A, Al-Sobayil F, Refaai W. Granulosa cell tumor in Arabian mares: prevalence, risk factors, clinical and histopathological findings and outcome of surgical removal. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1689782.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1689782pubmed: 41321570google scholar: lookup
          2. Wolf N, Hahn JA, Walter I, Zablotski Y, Zerbe H, Witte TS. Pathohistological Findings after Bilateral Ovariectomy in Mares with Behavioral Problems. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 8;14(19).
            doi: 10.3390/ani14192899pubmed: 39409848google scholar: lookup
          3. Tamulionytė-Skėrė R, Juodžiukynienė N, Gruodytė R, Rimkutė P, Duliebaitė I, Savickytė A. Ovarian Fibrothecoma in a Mare-Case Report. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 26;14(9).
            doi: 10.3390/ani14091307pubmed: 38731310google scholar: lookup
          4. Tommasa SD, Roth SP, Triebe T, Brehm W, Lohmann KL, Stöckle SD. Successful intra-abdominal resection of a 24 kg ovarian granulosa cell tumor in a Warmblood mare. Open Vet J 2023 Sep;13(9):1212-1218.
            doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i9.17pubmed: 37842112google scholar: lookup
          5. Dolin A, Schweiger P, Waselau M, Egerbacher M, Walter I. Immunohistochemical markers for equine granulosa cell tumors: a pilot study. J Equine Sci 2023 Jun;34(2):37-46.
            doi: 10.1294/jes.34.37pubmed: 37405069google scholar: lookup
          6. Tsogtgerel M, Tagami M, Watanabe K, Murase H, Hirosawa Y, Kobayashi Y, Nambo Y. Case report: The case of a 17 kg ovarian granulosa cell tumor in a Breton draft mare. J Equine Sci 2021 Jun;32(2):67-72.
            doi: 10.1294/jes.32.67pubmed: 34220274google scholar: lookup
          7. Devick IF, Hendrickson DA. Effects of Leaving Amputated Ovaries Intra-Abdominally during Elective Bilateral Standing Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Equids. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 18;11(1).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11010232pubmed: 33477730google scholar: lookup
          8. Devick IF, Leise BS, McCue PM, Rao S, Hendrickson DA. Ovarian histopathology, pre- and post-operative endocrinological analysis and behavior alterations in 27 mares undergoing bilateral standing laparoscopic ovariectomy. Can Vet J 2020 Feb;61(2):181-186.
            pubmed: 32020939
          9. Castillo JM, Tse MPY, Dockweiler JC, Cheong SH, de Amorim MD. Bilateral granulosa cell tumor in a cycling mare. Can Vet J 2019 May;60(5):480-484.
            pubmed: 31080259
          10. Browne NS, Scarratt WK, Robertson J. Hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to metastatic ovarian adenocarcinoma in a mare. Can Vet J 2016 Dec;57(12):1237-1241.
            pubmed: 27928168