A Retrospective Analysis of Renal Carcinoma in the Horse

Abstract

Background: Renal carcinoma is a rare tumor of horses. Hypothesis: Presenting complaints and clinical signs of this disease are vague and early diagnosis increases survival time. Animals: Data were collected from the medical records of 4 horses presented to Washington State University as well as the 23 previously published case reports of horses with renal carcinoma.Methods: Retrospective study.Results: Renal carcinoma affects horses of all ages with most cases observed in geldings and Thoroughbreds. The most common presenting complaints are nonspecific and usually do not occur until late in the course of the disease. Routine laboratory results generally are unremarkable with no evidence of renal dysfunction. Urine and peritoneal fluid analyses are consistently abnormal, but the changes usually are nonspecific. Rectal palpation often allows detection of an abnormal kidney or a mass in the area of the kidney. Renal ultrasound examination is the most rewarding imaging procedure, and when combined with renal biopsy, antemortem diagnosis can be achieved. Renal carcinoma is both locally invasive and metastatic, necessitating careful staging for metastasis using thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasound examination. If the tumor is localized to 1 kidney, nephrectomy is the treatment of choice. No chemotherapy or radiation treatment for renal carcinoma has been reported in the horse. Median survival for this series of cases was 11 days (0 days-1 year).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Prognosis is poor to grave.

Renal cell carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis in a mare

“…The most frequently reported clinical signs are weight loss, colic, and hematuria (WISE et al, 2009). The mare of the present report had decreased appetite and straining to defecate.…”

“…Clinical signs in horses affected by RCC are usually nonspecific and appear in later stages of the disease (WISE et al, 2009). The most frequently reported clinical signs are weight loss, colic, and hematuria (WISE et al, 2009).…”

“…Death resulting from hemoperitoneum has been reported in horses with RCC (BROWN & HOLT, 1985;KNOWLES et al, 2008). Intra-abdominal hemorrhage was detected through abdominocentesis in 21% of 14 horses with RCC (WISE et al, 2009). The affected kidney of the mare in the present report was covered by large amounts of blood clots.…”

“…In horses, renal tumors account for approximately 0.011% of total tumors and renal cell carcinomas (RCC) represented half of these renal tumors (HASCHEK et al, 1981). Metastasis of equine RCC is common and has been reported in the lungs, liver, bone, contralateral kidney, heart, pancreas, intestine, adrenal glands, myocardium, and lymph nodes (BROWN & HOLT, 1985;WEST & KELLY, 1987;WISE et al, 2009). Involvement of the peritoneal cavity (carcinomatosis) in cases of RCC has been rarely reported (HASCHEK et al, 1981; VAN MOL & FRANSEN, 1986).…”

Haemothorax and haematuria in a Dutch Warmblood horse due to metastasised anaplastic sarcoma

“…Primary renal tumours are rare in horses, being observed in 0.11 % of all horse tumours (Rumbauch et al 2003, Wise et al 2009). Renal carcinoma, also known as renal cell carcinoma and renal adenocarcinoma, have been found in 27 horses in total (Wise et al 2009).…”