Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Intracranial epidermoid cyst in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of comparative pathology
- Year:
- 2003
- Authors:
- Peters, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology · Germany
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old Haflinger gelding was found to have an intracranial epidermoid cyst, which is a type of growth in the brain. The horse had been experiencing neurological issues, low energy, and fever. The cyst was quite large, measuring about 9 x 8 x 5 cm, and it was pressing on important parts of the brain, which can lead to serious problems. The cyst contained various materials, including keratin and signs of bleeding, and there were concerns that it might be changing in a way that could lead to cancer. The treatment details and outcome were not provided, so it's unclear how the horse responded to any interventions.
Abstract
An intracranial epidermoid cyst was diagnosed in a Haflinger gelding aged 12 years suffering from episodes of neurological disturbance, apathy and fever. The extracerebral cyst was located in the region of the tentorium cerebelli and measured 9 x 8 x 5 cm. It displaced the cerebral hemispheres anteriorly and compressed the cerebellum and brainstem underneath. Histologically, the cyst was lined by keratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium and contained keratin scales, debris, focal haemorrhages, and degenerating inflammatory cells. The epithelium was supported by a vascularized fibrous capsule that firmly adhered to the dura mater. Multifocal haemorrhages and moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltrations were present in the capsule. The basement membrane was disrupted focally, and single or clustered cytokeratin-positive epithelial cells were detected in the fibrous capsule, suggesting a possible transition to malignancy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12859913/