Superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as therapy for limbal neoplasms in 13 horses.
Abstract: To determine the usefulness and clinical outcome of a combined procedure of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as a treatment for limbal neoplasms in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirteen horses with 14 limbal tumors. Methods: Medical records of all patients with limbal tumors, referred to the Department of Equine Sciences of Utrecht University between 1995 and 2002, were retrieved. Patient data were analyzed with respect to signalment, tumor surface area and histologic diagnosis. Surgery, performed under general anesthesia, included surgical debulking of the tumor followed by cryosurgery. Long-term follow-up information was obtained by re-evaluation in the clinic, by the referring veterinarian, and/or by telephone enquiry. Results: Therapy was successful in 9 out of 14 eyes after the first attempt (64%); one eye needed retreatment (7%), and four eyes were eventually enucleated (29%). The mean follow-up period was 4.8 years. The initial surface area of the tumor significantly influenced outcome (P < 0.01). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most predominant tumor type (79%). Haflinger horses accounted for 69% of the cases whereas their occurrence in the overall hospital population is approximately 5%. Conclusions: The described technique of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery is a simple procedure for the treatment of limbal tumors in equine patients that does not require sophisticated equipment. Nor is it tampered by legal restriction, and appears to be effective in tumors with a small surface area (< 2 cm2). Haflinger horses seem to be predisposed for the development of ocular squamous cell carcinoma.
Publication Date: 2005-07-13 PubMed ID: 16008703DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2005.00395.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses the applicability and results of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery, a fairly straight-forward procedure, to treat limbal neoplasms (a type of eye tumor) in horses. It suggests that this procedure, which does not require advanced equipment, is effective in treating tumors that have a small surface area and is not restricted by legal constraints.
Study Details
- The research was conducted by retrospectively studying medical records of 13 horses with 14 limbal tumors, referred to the Department of Equine Sciences of Utrecht University between 1995 and 2002. Information analyzed from patient data included things like age and gender (signalment), tumor surface area, and histologic diagnosis.
- The treatment administered to these horses was a surgical debulking of the tumor under general anesthesia, followed by cryosurgery – a minimally invasive treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissues.
- Details regarding long-term outcomes of the procedure were gathered through re-examination of the horse at the clinic, consultation with the referring vet, or through telephone enquiry.
Results of the Study
- Of the 14 eyes that underwent this treatment, the procedure was successful on the first attempt in 9 eyes, representing a 64% success rate.
- One eye required retreatment, making up 7% of the cases, and four eyes ended up being physically removed (enucleated), constituting 29% of the total cases.
- The average period of follow-up was 4.8 years. The research indicated that the initial surface area of the tumor significantly influenced the treatment outcome – smaller tumors had better outcomes – indicating a direct correlation (P < 0.01).
- 79% of the tumors treated were squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type. Interestingly, Haflinger horses accounted for 69% of the cases, which is noteworthy since typically, only around 5% of the total horse population in the hospital comprises this breed.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the method of treatment combining superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery is a straightforward and simple solution for treating limbal tumors in horses, particularly those with a smaller surface area (less than 2 cm²).
- Additionally, it pointed out the vulnerability of Haflinger horses in developing ocular squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting a predisposition for this breed towards this specific type of eye tumor.
Cite This Article
APA
Bosch G, Klein WR.
(2005).
Superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as therapy for limbal neoplasms in 13 horses.
Vet Ophthalmol, 8(4), 241-246.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2005.00395.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 12, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands. g.bosch@vet.uu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / epidemiology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / veterinary
- Corneal Surgery, Laser / veterinary
- Cryosurgery / veterinary
- Eye Neoplasms / epidemiology
- Eye Neoplasms / surgery
- Eye Neoplasms / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Limbus Corneae
- Male
- Netherlands / epidemiology
- Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / veterinary
- Pedigree
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Quatember H, Nell B, Richter B, Rigler D, Dolezal M, Sykora S, Wallner B. Studying the Impact of the DDB2 T338M Missense Mutation on the Development of Equine Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Sarcoid. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 22;15(7).
- Guerra Guimarães T, Menezes Cardoso K, Tralhão P, Marto CM, Alexandre N, Botelho MF, Laranjo M. Current Therapeutics and Future Perspectives to Ocular Melanocytic Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021 Dec 20;8(12).
- Jeanes EC, Koll-Hampp S, Dawson C, Dunkel B, Tetas Pont R. Rhomboid blepharoplasty and cryotherapy for the treatment of a squamous cell carcinoma on the lower eyelid in a horse. Clin Case Rep 2019 Jan;7(1):40-46.
- Flores AR, Azinhaga A, Pais E, Faria F, Nunes F, Gartner F, Amorim I. Equine ocular mast cell tumor: histopathological and immunohistochemical description. J Equine Sci 2017;28(4):149-152.
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