Spinal cord compression secondary to hemangiosarcoma in a saddlebred stallion.

This research report details a case of a 25-year-old stallion suffering from hemangiosarcoma, a form of cancer, which led to spinal cord compression, causing symptoms like lack of coordination, proprioceptive deficits, and weakness in all four limbs. Post-mortem examinations revealed an extradural mass at the C7-T1 level of the spinal canal, which was confirmed to be a tumor of endothelial origin.

Case Presentation and Diagnostic Findings

• The subject of this study was a 25-year-old saddlebred stallion that presented with progressive and symmetrical 4-limb ataxia (lack of coordination), proprioceptive deficits (a lack of awareness of where its limbs were in space), and weakness.
• Once euthanized, a necropsy was performed which revealed an extradural mass located at the level of the 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae (C7-T1). The mass was made up of spindle-shaped cells, a common characteristic of certain types of tumors, and numerous free erythrocytes (red blood cells).

Immunohistochemical Analysis

• Immunohistochemical staining, a technique used to identify specific proteins in tissues, was conducted on the mass. This technique confirmed that the mass was a neoplasm, or tumor, of endothelial origin.
• Endothelial cells form the lining of blood vessels and play a crucial role in the formation of new blood vessels, which are essential for the growth of tumors. A tumor of endothelial origin indicates that the neoplastic cells originated from the endothelium, or the lining of the blood vessels.

Conclusion

• This study documents a rare case of hemangiosarcoma in the spinal canal of a saddlebred stallion. This type of cancer, which originates from endothelial cells, caused a mass to grow in the spinal canal of the horse, leading to spinal cord compression. This compression resulted in the observed clinical signs including limb weakness, ataxia, and proprioceptive deficits.
• This study highlights the necessity of considering neoplasms as potential causes in cases of equine spinal cord compression, especially when clinical signs such as ataxia, proprioceptive deficits, and weakness are present.