Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horses with raised skin tumors - what to know
By Slovis, N M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2001·Veterinary Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Equine basal cell tumors: 6 cases (1985-1999).
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Basal cell tumors are uncommon but non-cancerous growths that can occur in horses. In a study over 15 years, six horses were found to have these tumors, which appeared as firm, raised lumps on the skin, measuring between 0.6 and 5 centimeters. Most of the tumors were ulcerated, and while they were initially thought to be a different type of tumor called sarcoids, one was identified as a melanoma. The affected horses were between 6 and 26 years old, and the tumors were noticed anywhere from a week to three years before they were surgically removed. For four of the horses, the surgery completely removed the tumors, and there were no signs of them coming back for up to two years afterward.
Abstract
Basal cell tumors are rare benign tumors in horses. Over a 15-year period, 6 horses were diagnosed with basal cell tumors. The tumors were well-circumscribed. freely moveable, firm, raised papules, nodules, or masses that ranged from 0.6 to 5 cm in diameter. Five of the 6 tumors were ulcerated. Based on gross appearance, the tumors were diagnosed as sarcoids, and 1 was diagnosed as a melanoma. The range of age of affected horses was 6-26 years. The tumors were identified clinically 1 week to 3 years before excision. In 4 horses for which information was available, complete surgical excision was curative with no recurrence 4 months to 2 years after removal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11215910/