Surgical treatment of 45 horses affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and prepuce.

This study reviews the cases of 45 horses that underwent surgical treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and/or prepuce. The report details the outcomes of different surgical procedures and the recurrence rates of the cancer.

Background of the Cases Reviewed

• The article reviews 45 medical cases of horses that underwent surgery for suspected squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that affects the penis and/or prepuce (a fold of skin at the end of the penis) in equines.
• The mean age of the 40 horses was 17.4 years. Information about the duration of the newly formed cancer was known for only 3 of the 45 horses.
• The lesions were histologically (microscopically) evaluated and proved to be squamous cell carcinoma in 35 horses.

Details of the Cancerous Lesions

• The location of the gross (visible) neoplastic (cancerous) lesions was documented for 43 of the horses. They were found on the glans of the penis for 24 horses, on the body of the penis or the inner lamina of the preputial fold of 27 horses, and on the external fold of the prepuce of 10 horses. This suggests that this type of cancer can affect different parts of the horse’s genitalia.

Surgical Procedures Used

• The horses underwent different types of surgeries including phallectomy (penile amputation) for 35 horses, segmental posthectomy (partial resection of the prepuce) for 4 horses, combined phallectomy and segmental posthectomy for 2 horses, and a comprehensive resection of the penis, prepuce, and superficial inguinal lymph nodes with penile retroversion for 4 horses.

Postoperative Complications and Follow-up Information

• The paper notes common short-term complications such as swelling (edema) of the prepuce and blood loss at the end of urination. One case led to acute urinary retention due to significant urethral swelling.
• Long-term follow-up information, available for 31 horses, revealed squamous cell carcinoma recurrence in 6 of them (19%). This led to euthanasia in 5 of the affected horses, suggesting a significant impact on their quality of life.

The findings of this study could help provide insight for veterinary practitioners on postoperative complications, the success rate, and recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma following different surgical procedures involved in this particular cancer’s treatment.