Renal neoplasia in horses – a retrospective study.
Abstract: Being confronted with a case series of renal neoplasia in several horses which was in striking divergence to literature data, we recognized the need of a retrospective study to assess the presence of renal neoplasms in horses. Methods: Anamnestic animal data, necropsy findings and results of histological and immunohistochemical examinations from 2010 through 2015 were collected and evaluated regarding renal neoplasia. Results: Data from postmortem examinations of 1069 horses revealed 20 horses with renal tumors constituting a prevalence of 1.87 %. Primary renal neoplasms built the majority of cases (n = 15; 75 % of total renal neoplasms) and comprised nine renal carcinomas, four renal adenomas, one renal neuroendocrine tumor and a single nephroblastoma. Among the five secondary renal neoplasms lymphosarcoma was most common (3/5). Remaining metastatic tumors comprised one melanoma and one hemangiosarcoma. No breed or sex predilections were noticeable. Except for the case of nephroblastoma in a stillborn foal, all horses presenting with renal tumors were more than 10 years of age, often older than 20 years. Anamnestic data and clinical symptoms were inconclusive and not assigned to renal disease in most cases. Merely one horse with renal carcinoma presented with renal insufficiency and two horses showed signs of shock due to severe bleeding after tumor capsule rupture in renal carcinoma. Conclusions: Renal tumors occur more often than anticipated, especially in older horses. Contradictorily to the literature, primary renal tumors significantly outnumbered secondary neoplasms in this study.
Publication Date: 2017-09-20 PubMed ID: 28933507DOI: 10.15653/TPG-161091Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article outlines a retrospective study undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and type of kidney tumors in horses. The data reviewed revealed kidney tumors occurred in 1.87% of the horse cases examined, and these were primarily primary renal neoplasms.
Research Methodology
- The study used historical data from horses, autopsy results, and outcomes of histological and immunohistochemical evaluations conducted between 2010 and 2015. These were specifically examined to determine the presence and types of renal (kidney) neoplasia, a term for abnormal tissue growth usually associated with cancer.
- The research was carried out in response to observed renal neoplasia in several horses, which appeared fundamentally different from what was known and documented in existing literature.
Research Outcomes
- The study involved an evaluation of postmortem findings from 1069 horses, which uncovered 20 horses with renal tumors, amounting to a prevalence rate of 1.87%.
- Of the identified tumors, the majority (75%) were primary renal neoplasms, indicating that the kidney was the primary site of the cancer. The primary renal tumors included nine renal carcinomas, four renal adenomas, one renal neuroendocrine tumor, and one nephroblastoma.
- Among the remaining 25% of tumors identified, which were secondary or metastatic tumors (spread from another primary site), the most common was lymphosarcoma. The researchers also found one instance each of metastatic melanoma and hemangiosarcoma.
- The paper found no significant predilections based on breed or sex. Excluding a singular case of nephroblastoma in a stillborn foal, all horses exhibiting renal tumors were found to be over 10 years old, with many over 20 years old.
- Historical data and clinical symptoms often did not point to kidney disease. Only one horse with renal carcinoma showed symptoms of kidney insufficiency. Two horses displayed shock symptoms due to heavy bleeding caused by a rupture in the renal carcinoma’s casing.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that renal tumors in horses occur more frequently than previously assumed, especially in older horses.
- This study contradicts previous literature findings, as it found primary renal tumors to greatly outnumber secondary or metastatic tumors.
Cite This Article
APA
Vienenkötter J, Siudak K, Stallenberger L, Herden C.
(2017).
Renal neoplasia in horses – a retrospective study.
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere, 45(5), 290-295.
https://doi.org/10.15653/TPG-161091 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Julia Vienenkötter, Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 96, 35392 Gießen, Germany, Email: Julia.vienenkoetter@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
MeSH Terms
- Age Distribution
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Kidney Neoplasms / epidemiology
- Kidney Neoplasms / secondary
- Kidney Neoplasms / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Azari O, Ghamsari SM, Roustaei A, Golchin D, Baharloo F, Javaheri M, Valizadeh N. Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Widespread Metastases in an Arabian Mare. Vet Med Sci 2025 May;11(3):e70281.
- van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC 2nd, Siwinska N. ECEIM consensus statement on equine kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2008-2025.
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