Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Epibulbar melanoma in a foal.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- McMullen, Richard J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This case involves a 6-month-old gelded chestnut Hanoverian foal that was diagnosed with a type of eye tumor called epibulbar melanoma. Initially, the mass looked like it could be a different condition, but during surgery to remove it, the veterinarians found it was more complex than expected. They managed to take out most of the tumor without damaging the eye, but further tests showed that some cancer cells had spread into nearby eye tissues. Fortunately, 14 months after the surgery, there have been no signs of the tumor coming back.
Abstract
A case of epibulbar melanoma in a 6-month-old, gelded, chestnut Hanoverian foal is reported. The location and clinical appearance upon initial presentation led to the tentative diagnosis of staphyloma or a congenital mass of unknown origin. An attempt was made to surgically excise the mass under general anesthesia, but due to its infiltrative nature and intraoperative appearance, most, but not all was removed without compromising the integrity of the globe. Histopathological evaluation revealed a multinodular to packeted, poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative exophytic melanocytic neoplasm composed of bundles and nests of plump spindloid to polygonal heavily pigmented epithelioid neoplastic cells interspersed with pigment-laden macrophages within a fine fibrovascular stroma. Upon examination after enucleation, neoplastic cells were found to infiltrate into the lateral cornea, sclera and the choroid. This is a unique case of an epibulbar melanoma with choroidal invasion in a foal. Based on the sudden onset and rapid growth as well as the histological evidence of invasion, well-differentiated features, heavy pigmentation, and no apparent mitoses, this neoplasm was considered to be a low-grade malignant melanoma. At 14 months after excision there is no evidence of recurrence.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19046269/