Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Intramuscular desmoid tumor (musculoaponeurotic fibromatosis) in two horses.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 1999
- Authors:
- Valentine, B A et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two young adult horses were found to have intramuscular desmoid tumors, which are a type of growth that can occur in muscle tissue. One horse had the tumor in its neck muscles, while the other had it in its chest muscles. Both tumors showed similar characteristics under the microscope, indicating they were made up of certain types of cells and had areas of inflammation. The researchers believe these tumors might develop after injuries, like from injections. The first horse had its tumor surgically removed and seemed to recover well, but the second horse could not have surgery because the tumor was too extensive.
Abstract
Intramuscular desmoid tumors (musculoaponeurotic fibromatosis) were discovered in two young adult horses. The tumor in one horse was in the lateral cervical musculature, and that in the second horse occurred in the pectoral musculature. Histopathologic features were similar in both horses and included proliferation of fibroblasts and cells expressing muscle actin (myofibroblasts), with extensive dissecting fibrosis within muscle. These features are similar to those of desmoid tumors in humans, particularly those also known as musculoaponeurotic fibromatosis. Dissection of these lesions revealed a single central (horse No. 1) or multiple central (horse No. 2) fluid-filled cavities with associated sterile inflammation. The presence of these cavities supports the hypothesis that equine desmoid tumors are traumatic in origin, possibly occurring at sites of injections or bursal rupture. Surgical excision of the tumor in horse No. 1 was apparently curative, but the extent of the tumor in horse No. 2 precluded surgical excision.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10490218/