Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva of a horse.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2004
- Authors:
- McCowan, Christina & Stanley, Robin G
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Pathology · Australia
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A bay Thoroughbred horse had a dark tumor removed from the area around its eye. The surgery didn't completely take out the tumor, so the base was treated with a laser, as the veterinarians initially thought it was a type of skin cancer called melanoma. However, further testing revealed that it was actually a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma, which is a different kind of cancer with different treatment options. This case is notable because it is the first time a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma in the eye has been reported in veterinary medicine. The outcome of the treatment is not specified, but it's important for your vet to know the correct diagnosis for future care.
Abstract
Abstract A heavily pigmented tumor was removed from the lateral, perilimbal, bulbar conjunctiva of a bay Thoroughbred horse. Excision was incomplete and the base of the tumor was lasered on the assumption that the tumor was a melanoma. No other ophthalmic lesions were seen. Histology showed the mass to be a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The prognosis and recommended treatment protocols are different for SCC and melanoma. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of an ocular, pigmented SCC in the veterinary literature.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15511285/