Small intestinal adenocarcinoma in a horse.

The research study reports a case of small intestinal adenocarcinoma (a type of cancer) in a 21-year-old horse, which was successfully treated with surgery and resulted in the horse surviving 13 months post-operation.

Overview of the Case

• The study reports a case of a 21-year-old mare which was presented with episodes of abdominal pain that had persisted for six months.
• Upon physical examination via abdominal palpation per rectum, the horse showed symptoms of a distended small intestine in the caudal portion of the abdomen.
• The mare underwent a ventral midline celiotomy, which is a surgical procedure to open the abdominal cavity. During the surgery, a mass was discovered in the midjejunal region of the small intestine.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• The mass from the midjejunal region was removed surgically (resected).
• Following removal of the mass, a surgical procedure known as side-to-side anastomosis was performed. This procedure connects two parts of the intestine together after a portion has been removed, thereby maintaining the continuity of the digestive tract.
• A histologic examination of the removed mass confirmed the diagnosis of tubular adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in glandular tissue.

Outcome and Follow-Up

• The mare was seen to be alive and well 13 months after the surgical procedure.
• Therefore, the surgical removal of the mass along with the anastomosis was deemed successful in this specific case of small intestinal adenocarcinoma in a horse.
• The study does not provide information on any additional treatments given to the horse post surgery or its overall health status beyond the 13-month period.