Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach of the horse.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1982
- Authors:
- Tennant, B et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at six horses diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (a type of cancer) in their stomachs at a veterinary college in New York. All the horses had stopped eating, and some showed signs of weight loss, fever, low red blood cell counts, and abdominal masses. A few horses also had colic (abdominal pain) or trouble swallowing. Tests on their blood and abdominal fluid showed some abnormalities, and surgery was needed in three cases to confirm the diagnosis. The findings suggest that this type of stomach cancer in horses might be becoming more common, highlighting the need for more research on the issue.
Abstract
Six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach in horses seen at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine are compared with 15 similar cases reported previously. Clinical signs included anorexia in all cases, emaciation, fever, anaemia and/or palpable abdominal masses in 3, colic in 2 and dysphagia in one case. Haematological studies revealed normochromic, normocytic anaemia in 3 and absolute neutrophilia in 5 cases. Peritoneal fluid analysis was performed in 4 cases and revealed slightly to moderately elevated total protein concentrations in 3 and a markedly elevated number of white blood cells in 2 cases. Exploratory laparotomy, performed in 3 cases, was essential for a definitive diagnosis. The data presented here suggest that squamous cell carcinoma of the equine stomach may be increasing in frequency and demonstrate the need for prospective epidemiological studies.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7106089/