Ocular and multicentric lymphoma in a young racehorse.
Abstract: A 6-year-old thoroughbred gelding was presented with a history of blepharospasm and opacity in the OS of 1 weeks' duration. Ophthalmic examination findings were consistent with acute uveitis in the OS, and traditional treatment was initiated with systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, topical mydriatics, and corticosteroids. During the total treatment period of 4 weeks response to treatment was weak and the horse developed further problems such as cellulitis of the right hind limb with fever and eventually weight loss and dependent edema. Blood work was indicative of liver disease. Abdominal sonography revealed severe splenomegaly and slight hepatomegaly, and a liver biopsy confirmed malignant T-cell lymphoma. The horse was euthanized due to deteriorating general condition and subsequently underwent postmortem examination. Necropsy and histologic examination revealed a multicentric lymphoma with involvement of spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and OU. The findings in this case demonstrate that the differential diagnosis of intraocular and systemic lymphoma should be considered in any horse presenting with anterior uveitis, especially when uveitis is unresponsive to treatment and when additional systemic signs of illness such as lethargy, fever, weight loss, or dependent edema arise. Cytological examination of aqueous humor may provide a rapid diagnosis of intraocular lymphoma in eyes with clinical uveitis.
Publication Date: 2008-12-17 PubMed ID: 19046270DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00638.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents a case of ocular and multicentric lymphoma in a 6-year-old thoroughbred racehorse, explaining its recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and progression to severe illness, leading to euthanasia. The study emphasizes the importance of considering intraocular and systemic lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of horses with anterior uveitis, especially when traditional treatment fails and other systemic signs of illness emerge.
Initial Symptoms and Diagnosis
- The 6-year-old thoroughbred gelding initially showed signs of blepharospasm (involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids) and opacity in the left eye, which indicated acute uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.
- An ophthalmic examination confirmed this diagnosis, after which conventional treatment was begun. This regimen included systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, topical mydriatics (drugs that dilate the pupil), and corticosteroids.
Progression of the Disease
- Over the 4-week treatment period, the horse’s response to the treatment was weak. Further complications arose, such as cellulitis (skin infection) in the right hind limb, fever, weight loss, and dependent edema (swelling due to fluid accumulation).
- Blood tests indicated a presence of liver disease.
- An ultrasound of the abdomen revealed severe splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) and slight hepatomegaly (enlarged liver).
- The diagnosis of malignant T-cell lymphoma was confirmed with a liver biopsy.
Euthanasia and Postmortem Examination
- Given the deterioration in the horse’s general condition, euthanasia was performed. A postmortem examination followed.
- The necropsy and histologic (microscopic) examination revealed that the horse had multicentric lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymphatic cells and affects multiple sites in the body. In this case, the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and both eyes were involved.
Implications of the Study
- These findings stress the need to consider intraocular and systemic lymphoma in the differential diagnosis when a horse presents with anterior uveitis. This is especially applicable when the uveitis does not respond to conventional treatment and other signs of systemic illness appear.
- The study suggests that cytological examination of the aqueous humor (liquid in the front part of the eye) may rapidly diagnose intraocular lymphoma in eyes showing clinical uveitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Germann SE, Richter M, Schwarzwald CC, Wimmershoff J, Spiess BM.
(2008).
Ocular and multicentric lymphoma in a young racehorse.
Vet Ophthalmol, 11 Suppl 1, 51-56.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00638.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. sgermann@vetclinics.uzh.ch
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Eye Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Eye Neoplasms / pathology
- Eye Neoplasms / veterinary
- Fatal Outcome
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lymph Nodes / pathology
- Lymphoma / diagnosis
- Lymphoma / pathology
- Lymphoma / veterinary
- Male
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Splenic Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Splenic Neoplasms / pathology
- Splenic Neoplasms / veterinary
- Uveitis / drug therapy
- Uveitis / pathology
- Uveitis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Silva GF, Ribeiro TE, Cunha R, Salas PB, Guimarães T, Ribeiro MR, Barros G, Carvalho F, Mesquita JR, Amorim I. A case of equine multicentric lymphoma: Clinical, microscopical, and molecular findings. Open Vet J 2024 May;14(5):1294-1301.
- Pereira R, Bowen M, Rapezzano G, Redpath A, Pratt S, Hallowell G. Use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) for treatment of fibrin in the anterior chamber of the horse. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e1448.
- Rahmati-Holasoo H, Shokrpoor S, Marandi A, Torjani N, Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi H. A rare case of ocular and testicular T-cell lymphoma in a hermaphrodite koi carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758): clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical study. BMC Vet Res 2023 Apr 27;19(1):67.
- Wollanke B, Gerhards H, Ackermann K. Infectious Uveitis in Horses and New Insights in Its Leptospiral Biofilm-Related Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2022 Feb 7;10(2).
- Torrent A, Kilcoyne I, Johnson A, Affolter VK, Berryhill E, Aleman M. An atypical presentation of multi-systemic B-cell lymphoma in a horse. Can Vet J 2019 Mar;60(3):300-304.
- Miglio A, Morelli C, Gialletti R, Lauteri E, Sforna M, Marenzoni ML, Antognoni MT. Clinical and immunophenotypic findings in 4 forms of equine lymphoma. Can Vet J 2019 Jan;60(1):33-40.
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