Intestinal neoplasia in horses.
Abstract: Intestinal neoplasia of horses is inadequately described. Objective: Intestinal neoplasia of horses has characteristic clinicopathologic features. Methods: Thirty-four horses with intestinal neoplasia. Methods: Retrospective study. Results: Anamnesis, clinical signs, clinicopathologic and pathologic findings in 34 adult horses diagnosed histologically with intestinal neoplasia were reviewed. The horses ranged in age from 2 to 30 years (mean 16.6 years at presentation). The Arabian breed was most represented and there was no sex predisposition. The most common presenting complaints were weight loss, colic, anorexia, and fever. The most consistent clinical signs were poor body condition, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, and diarrhea. Useful diagnostic tools included rectal examination, routine blood analyses, abdominocentesis, ultrasonographic examination, rectal biopsy, and exploratory laparotomy. Alimentary lymphoma was the most common intestinal neoplasia identified, followed by adenocarcinoma and smooth muscle tumors. The small intestine was the most common segment of intestine affected for all neoplasms. Intestinal neoplasia was diagnosed antemortem in 13 of 34 (38%) horses. The median time from onset of clinical signs to death or euthanasia was 1.9 months. The discharge rate was 15%. Although the longest survival was observed in horses with jejunal adenocarcinoma, all horses were eventually euthanized because of intestinal neoplasia. Conclusions: Arabian horses were 4.5 times more likely to have intestinal neoplasia diagnosed than were other breeds.
Publication Date: 2006-12-26 PubMed ID: 17186861DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[1429:inih]2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the clinicopathologic features of intestinal cancer (neoplasia) in horses. It reviews historical data, individual presentations, and clinical findings from 34 adult horses diagnosed with this condition, shining a light on diagnostic methods, representative demographics, presenting complaints, clinical signs, and outcomes.
Objective and Methods
- The main objective of the study was to explore and describe the clinical and pathologic characteristics of intestinal cancer in horses.
- The research was retroactive, analyzing existing data from 34 horses who had been histologically diagnosed with intestinal neoplasia.
- The horses included in the study represented a wide age range, from 2 to 30 years.
- Diagnostic methods used in the study included rectal examination, blood analyses, abdominocentesis (a procedure to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity), ultrasound examination, rectal biopsy, and exploratory laparotomy (a surgical procedure to investigate the abdomen).
Findings
- The Arabian breed was prominently represented, suggesting a potential breed predisposition, but no gender bias was observed.
- The most frequently reported symptoms included weight loss, abdominal pain (colic), loss of appetite (anorexia), and fever.
- The recurring clinical signs observed in horses suffering from intestinal neoplasia were poor body condition, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing rate (tachypnea), fever, and diarrhea.
- The most common types of intestinal cancer were alimentary lymphoma, followed by adenocarcinoma and smooth muscle tumors. The small intestine was the most frequently affected section.
- Antemortem diagnoses (before death) were made in about 38% of the cases.
- The average survival period from the onset of clinical signs to death or euthanasia was only 1.9 months. Only 15% of the horses were discharged, and all of them were eventually euthanized due to the progress of the disease.
Conclusion
- From the analyzed data, it was concluded that Arabian horses were 4.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with intestinal neoplasia compared to other horse breeds.
Cite This Article
APA
Taylor SD, Pusterla N, Vaughan B, Whitcomb MB, Wilson WD.
(2006).
Intestinal neoplasia in horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 20(6), 1429-1436.
https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[1429:inih]2.0.co;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- From the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Colic / etiology
- Colic / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Diarrhea / etiology
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Female
- Fever of Unknown Origin / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Intestinal Neoplasms / mortality
- Intestinal Neoplasms / pathology
- Intestinal Neoplasms / veterinary
- Male
- Pedigree
- Retrospective Studies
- Sex Factors
- Survival Rate
- Weight Loss
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