Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with trouble breathing and sudden blindness - what could it be?
By Gaughan, E M et al.·Published in The Cornell veterinarian·1991·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Squamous cell carcinoma as a cause of dyspnea and blindness in a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old Quarter Horse mare was brought in for chronic nasal discharge and trouble breathing due to a mass in her nasal passages and sinuses. After surgery to reduce the mass, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Unfortunately, about 7-8 weeks later, she suddenly became blind because the tumor had grown back and was pressing on her optic nerves. While the surgery helped with her breathing, the cancer's return led to further complications.
People also search for: horse nasal discharge treatment · Quarter Horse blindness causes · squamous cell carcinoma in horses
Abstract
An 8-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined for chronic nasal discharge and obstruction of both nasal passages. A solid mass lesion was identified in the maxillary sinuses, soft palate, nasal and pharyngeal cavities. Palliative surgery was used to debulk the lesion and facilitate nasal airflow. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed from surgical biopsies. Approximately 7-8 weeks after surgery, the mare was observed to be acutely blind. Ophthalmologic examination revealed central origin blindness and active retinitis. The squamous cell carcinoma had reobstructed the nasal passages. Pressure by the expanding tumor deformed the ethmoid and sphenoid bones resulting in compression of the optic tracts. No bony invasion by the tumor was present.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1879142/