Intracranial schwannoma in a horse.
Abstract: A case of intracranial schwannoma is described in a young horse. Clinical signs developed slowly and were suggestive of a lesion involving the left cerebrum. The filly exhibited a change in mentation, and circled to the left. Visual impairment and decreased facial sensation were noted on the right side. A solitary schwannoma which compressed the left cerebrum was found at necropsy.
Publication Date: 1990-04-01 PubMed ID: 2318039
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Summary
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This is a case study detailing the occurrence of an intracranial schwannoma, a type of brain tumor, in a young horse. The horse exhibited behavioral changes, movement abnormalities and sensory issues, all symptoms indicative of a cerebral lesion, which was confirmed after its death.
About Intracranial Schwannomas
- An intracranial schwannoma is a rare type of brain tumor that arises from Schwann cells, which produce the myelin sheath that wraps around nerve fibers and helps in transmission of nerve signals.
- These tumors usually occur in humans and are associated with certain genetic conditions (like Neurofibromatosis type 2), but they can also occur in animals, as indicated in this case study.
Clinical Presentation in the Horse
- According to the case presented, the horse showed several symptoms indicating a problem with the brain, particularly the left hemisphere of the cerebrum.
- Signs included a change in mental state, circling movements to the left (likely indicative of motor control or balance issues), visual impairments and a decrease in facial sensation on the right side.
- This asymmetric presentation of symptoms suggests a unilateral (one-sided) lesion, affecting one hemisphere of the brain more than the other.
Post-Mortem Findings
- Upon performing a necropsy (an autopsy performed on animals), a single schwannoma was found compressing the left cerebrum of the horse.
- This tumor probably caused the observed symptoms by disrupting normal brain functions due to its size and location.
Significance of this Case
- This case study provides valuable insights into how intracranial schwannomas might present in large animals like horses.
- Understanding the symptoms and post-mortem findings can help in diagnosing such conditions in living horses, possibly leading to early detection and improved treatment outcomes in future cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Williamson LH, Farrell RL.
(1990).
Intracranial schwannoma in a horse.
Cornell Vet, 80(2), 135-141.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brain Neoplasms / pathology
- Brain Neoplasms / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Neurilemmoma / pathology
- Neurilemmoma / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Palmisano M, Bender S, Johnson AL. Intracranial medulloblastoma as the cause of progressive ataxia in a 6-month-old draft horse cross gelding. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):361-365.
- Osum SH, Watson AL, Largaespada DA. Spontaneous and Engineered Large Animal Models of Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Feb 16;22(4).
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