Pleuroscopic diagnosis of disseminated hemangiosarcoma in a horse.

The research analyzes the case of a 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare with persistent bilateral epistaxis and respiratory distress, diagnosed with disseminated hemangiosarcoma – a form of cancer – through the use of pleuroscopy.

Objective Overview

A 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare showed symptoms of persistent bilateral epistaxis and respiratory distress. Upon testing, no evidence of sepsis was found, but echographic and radiographic changes in lung parenchyma were noticeable. Pleuroscopy revealed several dark nodules on various parts of the thoracic region. Subsequent biopsy and necropsy identified these nodules as evidence of disseminated hemangiosarcoma.

Details of the case

• The mare was physically examined due to ongoing bilateral epistaxis (nosebleeds) and difficulty breathing. A check revealed bilateral pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid within the chest cavity).
• A large amount of serosanguineous (containing both blood and serum) fluid was drained from the right side of the thorax. Typically, this type of fluid is suggestive of injury to blood vessels or the thoracic organs.

Diagnostic Tests

• The researchers conducted cytologic examination and bacteriologic cultures of both the transtracheal aspirate (a sample obtained from the windpipe) and the pleural fluid. The objective of these tests was to identify any signs of sepsis, however, no such evidence was found.
• The horse underwent a coagulation profiling to check for any abnormalities in blood clotting, which returned unremarkable results.
• Further examinations consisted of radiographic and echographic imaging of the lung parenchyma (functional parts of the lung), which showed noticeable changes, indicative of an underlying condition or disease.

Pleuroscopy and Diagnosis

• A pleuroscopy was performed with the horse standing upright, which revealed numerous dark nodules on the pleura (membranes encompassing the lungs), diaphragm, and surface of the lung.
• Biopsy and necropsy, post-mortem examinations of the affected tissues, confirmed these nodules to be disseminated hemangiosarcoma, a type of cancer that arises from the endothelial cells, the cells that line the interior surface of the blood vessels.