SUMMARYAn 11-year-old Arabian mare had sudden signs of colic 10 days post partum. Rectal examination revealed a large mass in the abdomen. The mare was successfully operated on for a granulosa cell tumour of 31.5 kg. The large abdominal wound healed by primary intention.

Over an eight year period (2004-2011) 68 horses with nodular skin disease were diagnosed with 70 tumour like skin lesions. Diagnoses of the 70 nodular lesions were based on clinical features (5), cytology of fine needle aspirates(4), histological examination of either a biopsy or a complete surgical specimen (59) or on a combination of cytology and histology (2). Fifty-nine (84%) of the nodules proved to be genuine tumour like lesions and eleven (16%) were different forms of localised inflammatory dermatitis. Owners (93%) were very supportive of the need to perform histological or cytological investigations (65/70). Sarcoid was the most common nodular lesion (21) followed in order of occurrence by; melanoma (8), squamous cell carcinoma (8), nodular necrobiosis (7), mastocytoma (3), papilloma (2), maligne lymphoma (2), fibroma (2), naevus (1), botryomycosis (1), calcinosis circumscripta (1), collagen tumour (1), follicular hyperplasia (1) and follicular cyst (1). In the present study there was no breed predilection and the mean age of the group was 10.8 year (range 3-23 years). Melanoma occurred in 62.5% of the grey horses (5/8). Nodular necrobiose was only diagnosed in 10% of the cases , because when the nodule was noticed in the girth or saddle region no therapy was performed. Melanoma, nodular necrobiosis and sarcoids were in this relatively small study found on aspecific locations. In 70% (49/70) the nodules were surgical removed with either sedation and local anaesthesia (38) or general anaesthesia (11). Most patients (60.6%) were surgically treated at the practice (42/70). Of the 70 tumour-like lesions 61 lesions were scored for follow-up (for 8 cases no follow up was possible and one case had just started therapy); 64% (39/61) of the horses had no recurrence of the skin lesion(s) and the owners considerd their horses to be cured. Satisfaction rate as judged by owners was even higher: 80% (49/61).

This paper describes a retrospective study of 34 mares which had been subjected to surgical elective ovariectomy using a standing laparotomy technique by two experienced veterinary surgeons at 13 different equine clinics in the Netherlands over a 9-year period (2010-2018). Of the 34 mares that underwent surgery, 74 % (25/34) were Warmbloods. Fifty-nine percent (20/34) had a mass in the right ovary and 41% in the left ovary. The primary presenting signs were behavioural and fertility issues. The mean age of the horses was 10 years (5-18 years). The procedure was performed in stocks with continuous infusion sedation and analgesia. Prior to surgery the horses routinely received antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's). The surgical site was anaesthetized using an inverted L-block. The paracostal incision was performed in a "grid-or partial grid" fashion. The length of the incision varied from 15-30 cm depending on the size of the mass. The affected ovary was manoeuvred into the laparotomy wound and the ovarian pedicle was infiltrated with local anaesthetic solution. Shortly thereafter the pedicle was crushed with an emasculator and ligated with absorbable suture material. The ovarian mass was removed and the stump inspected for bleeding prior to wound closure in separate layers. The mares remained hospitalized for between 5 and 7 days. The mean diameter of the operated ovaries was 18.5 cm (10-25 cm). Surgical pathology was not always carried out but almost all cases showed a typical granulosa (theca) cell tumour (GCT) appearance and subsequent pathology, in 3 cases, confirmed that diagnosis. All laparotomy wounds healed per primam with only minor postoperative complications (seroma) and no further complications were reported over the following 3 months; all horses returned to their normal activity. Ovariectomy via a standing flank laparotomy is a relative safe, basic, straightforward and economic surgical procedure for the removal of pathologically enlarged ovaries. The procedure requires only restraint, sedation and local anaesthesia with standard, non-specialized instruments. This approach can be considered as a viable and effective surgical option.