Multiple excisions of an equine sarcoid and the repercussions.

The research article discusses the case of a 13-year-old horse with a tumor on its hind leg which showed persistent growth after multiple excisions, leading to a diagnosis of equine sarcoid.

Overview of the Case

• The subject of the study is a 13-year-old Morgan crossbred mare. This type of horse was recorded to have a tumor-like mass on her left hind fetlock, measuring about 10 cm.
• The mass was first noticed in May 2018, and since then, it underwent multiple failed excisions. The mass was not entirely removed, and interestingly, it continued to grow.

Action Taken and Findings

• Over a span of almost a year, the tumor was partially removed multiple times. These attempts were made in September and November of 2018 as well as in June 2019. Despite these efforts to remove the mass, it continuously showed growth.
• To understand the nature of the mass, histopathology, a microscopic examination of tissues, was carried out of the last tumor excision. The results from this analysis identified the tumor to be a kind of spindle cell tumor. This type of tumor involves cells that are elongated and known for their rapid growth.

Diagnosis

• The findings from the histopathological analysis led to the diagnosis of the tumor-like mass being an equine sarcoid. The equine sarcoid is known to be a common type of skin tumor in horses.
• Sarcoids in horses are typically benign (not cancerous), but they can have serious consequences. They are characteristically aggressive on the skin and do not metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). In most instances, the tumor causes discomfort and can interfere with the quality of life for the horse. This could be why the horse in the discussed case was submitted for multiple excisions, as the mass may have caused various levels of inconvenience besides from it being a potential health hazard.