Unilateral orbital lacrimal gland abscess in a horse.
Abstract: A 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented for evaluation of a periorbital dorsal swelling of the left eye that had been intermittently present for 3 months. Upon ocular examination, a firm, non-painful swelling was identified under the upper eyelid in the region of the orbital lacrimal gland, and was noted to extend anteriorly from underneath the dorsal orbital rim. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a mixed echogenic mass along the dorsal orbital rim that followed the contour of the globe. CT scan showed a moderately contrast enhancing mass that was contiguous with the eyelid. Differential diagnoses included neoplasia, inflammatory lesions such as a granuloma, foreign body or abscess. Surgical exploration and excision of the mass revealed a lobular structure with a purulent center. Histopathology identified the mass as the orbital lacrimal gland with concurrent severe dacryoadenitis. Culture of the purulent center of the mass revealed beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was maintained on supportive care and antibiotic treatment based on sensitivity postoperatively. No recurrence was reported 40 months later. This paper aims to identify bacterial dacryoadenitis as a cause for unilateral periorbital swelling in the horse. Differential diagnoses for this presentation, as well as successful surgical management are discussed. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case of bacterial dacryoadenitis and subsequent abscessation of the orbital lacrimal gland in the horse.
© 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2011-01-05 PubMed ID: 21199280DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00842.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study reports on a case of a 20-year-old horse that had unilateral periorbital swelling due to a bacterial infection in the orbital lacrimal gland, a condition known as dacryoadenitis. The paper discusses methods for diagnosing such conditions, as well as surgical management, which in this case was successful with no recurrence reported 40 months post-operation.
Background of the Case
- The case involves a 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that was presented for evaluation due to a swelling near its left eye. This swelling had been intermittently seen for 3 months.
- Upon physical examination, a firm, non-painful swelling was identified in the region of the orbital lacrimal gland, under the upper eyelid.
- This swelling was noted to extend from under the dorsal orbital rim and followed the contour of the globe.
Diagnostic Methods
- Ultrasonography was used to examine the swelling, which showed a mixed echogenic mass along the dorsal orbital rim.
- A CT scan revealed a mass that was enhancing the contrast moderately, and this mass was seen as contiguous with the eyelid.
- Possible diagnoses considered included inflammatory lesions like granuloma, foreign body or abscess, and neoplasia.
- The eventual diagnosis was arrived at through surgical exploration and excision of the mass. The mass was discovered to be a lobular structure with a purulent, or pus-filled, centre.
Findings and Treatment
- Post operative histopathology identified the mass as the orbital lacrimal gland and found severe dacryoadenitis, an infection in the tear gland.
- Culture of the pus from the mass revealed that the infection was due to beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria.
- The patient horse was then put on supportive care, and treated with antibiotics based on the bacteria’s sensitivity to them.
- No recurrence of the condition was reported even 40 months after the operation.
Conclusion
- This case report was aimed at identifying bacterial dacryoadenitis as a cause for the unilateral periorbital swelling in horses, and discussing the potential diagnoses for these presentations.
- Also, the successful surgical management of such a condition is discussed.
- According to the author’s knowledge, this is the first case of bacterial dacryoadenitis and ensuing abscessation in the orbital lacrimal gland in a horse.
Cite This Article
APA
Greenberg SM, Plummer CE, Brooks DE, Porter M, Farina LL, Winter MD.
(2011).
Unilateral orbital lacrimal gland abscess in a horse.
Vet Ophthalmol, 14(1), 55-60.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00842.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small and Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abscess / diagnosis
- Abscess / pathology
- Abscess / surgery
- Abscess / veterinary
- Animals
- Dacryocystitis / diagnosis
- Dacryocystitis / pathology
- Dacryocystitis / surgery
- Dacryocystitis / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Eye Diseases / diagnosis
- Eye Diseases / pathology
- Eye Diseases / surgery
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Lacrimal Apparatus / pathology
- Lacrimal Apparatus / surgery
- Male
- Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
- Staphylococcal Infections / pathology
- Staphylococcal Infections / surgery
- Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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