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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Sci / Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Widespread Metastases in...
Veterinary medicine and science2025; 11(3); e70281; doi: 10.1002/vms3.70281

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Widespread Metastases in an Arabian Mare.

Abstract: This report describes a case of massive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) causing mild chronic colic in a 20-day-postpartum Arabian mare. The mare presented with deteriorating abdominal pain following normal parturition. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea, weak intestinal motility and pale mucosal membranes. Rectal examination identified a very large mass in the caudal part of the abdominal cavity, and abdominal ultrasound examination revealed a huge space-occupying mass with renal architecture. During midline exploratory laparotomy, a massive tumour was observed in the anatomical location of the left kidney, with numerous adhesions to abdominal organs. Due to the severity of the condition and intra-abdominal spread of the neoplasm, the horse was euthanized intraoperatively. Upon necropsy, a 23-kg mass was found in the left kidney, along with widespread metastases to the liver, diaphragm and lungs. Histopathological examination confirmed primary and metastatic papillary RCC. This case highlights that colic should be considered a potential symptom of neoplastic lesions within the abdomen.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-04-02 PubMed ID: 40172015PubMed Central: PMC11962752DOI: 10.1002/vms3.70281Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research article discusses a case of massive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a 20-day postpartum Arabian mare, resulting in mild chronic colic, and eventually leading to euthanasia due to the intra-abdominal spread of the cancer and severe condition.

Case Presentation

  • The Arabian mare, who had recently given birth, presented with chronic colic, a kind of abdominal pain.
  • Clinical examinations revealed symptoms including tachycardia (rapid heart rate), tachypnea (rapid breathing), weak intestinal motility, and pale mucosal membranes.
  • A large mass was identified in the caudal (rear) part of the abdominal cavity through a rectal examination. Further, an ultrasound showed a large mass that possessed renal architecture, indicating the mass had likely originated from the kidney.

Surgical Investigation and Findings

  • During a midline exploratory laparotomy, a procedure to examine the abdominal organs, a substantial tumor was discovered in the location of the left kidney. The tumor had numerous adhesions to other abdominal organs, indicating severe disease progression.
  • Given the severity of the condition and the spread of the cancer within the abdomen, the decision was made to euthanize the horse during the operation.

Postmortem Examination and Histopathology

  • An autopsy revealed a 23-kg mass in the left kidney, highlighting the size and extent of the tumor. There were also widespread metastases noted in the liver, diaphragm, and lungs, showing that the cancer had spread significantly.
  • The histopathology (microscopic examination of tissue to study disease) confirmed the masses as primary and metastatic papillary RCC.

Discussion and Conclusion

  • The study emphasizes the fact that symptoms of colic in equine patients may potentially indicate the presence of neoplastic lesions or tumors within the abdomen, not just disorders of the digestive system as commonly thought.
  • The findings suggest that veterinarians should consider underlying oncological conditions when diagnosing causes of persistent colic, especially in cases where the source of the colic isn’t readily identifiable.

Cite This Article

APA
Azari O, Ghamsari SM, Roustaei A, Golchin D, Baharloo F, Javaheri M, Valizadeh N. (2025). Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Widespread Metastases in an Arabian Mare. Vet Med Sci, 11(3), e70281. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70281

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
Pages: e70281
PII: e70281

Researcher Affiliations

Azari, Omid
  • Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Ghamsari, Seyed Mahdi
  • Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Roustaei, Ali
  • Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Golchin, Diba
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Baharloo, Farid
  • Large Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Equine Practitioner, Isfahan, Iran.
Javaheri, Mohammad
  • Large Animal Internal Medicine Specialist, Equine Practitioner, Isfahan, Iran.
Valizadeh, Negar
  • Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

MeSH Terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / veterinary
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Kidney Neoplasms / veterinary
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Neoplasm Metastasis

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

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