Laryngeal neuroendocrine tumour in a horse

Abstract

Summary A 13‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with chronic progressive respiratory noise and exercise intolerance. Severe respiratory stridor associated with a laryngeal mass was seen on upper airway endoscopy. Ultrasonography revealed an intra‐cartilagenous mass and allowed for a guided biopsy. Histological analysis of the mass characterised a neuroendocrine tumour and the mare was subjected to euthanasia due to the poor prognosis. Ultrasound examination was paramount in making the diagnosis and facilitating the biopsy. To our knowledge, neuroendocrine tumours have not previously been reported in the equine larynx.

Advances in diagnostic imaging of the larynx and pharynx

“…Excellent detail of the soft tissue, cartilaginous and bony structures is obtained. As the authors of this case report and others have described, MRI was able to add information in clinical cases that was not available using ultrasonography (Garrett et al 2009(Garrett et al , 2010Koenig et al 2012). In the author's experience, the same has held true for conditions including cystic structures in the dorsal pharyngeal region and perilaryngeal masses.…”

“…Laryngeal ultrasonography can be performed in the standing horse and is inexpensive. The case report by Koenig et al . (2012) reporting on ultrasound‐guided biopsy of a laryngeal mass describes an innovative use of ultrasonography.…”

“…These modalities have increased our diagnostic yield when investigating disorders of the upper airway. The Case Report in this issue (Koenig et al . 2012) describes the diagnosis and biopsy of a laryngeal mass using ultrasonography illustrating one novel application of laryngeal ultrasonography.…”

“…As the authors of this case report and others have described, MRI was able to add information in clinical cases that was not available using ultrasonography (Garrett et al . 2009, 2010; Koenig et al . 2012).…”

“…Laryngeal ultrasonography can be performed in the standing horse and is inexpensive. The case report by Koenig et al (2012) reporting on ultrasound-guided biopsy of a laryngeal mass describes an innovative use of ultrasonography. In this case, ultrasonography was vital in both reaching a diagnosis and obtaining a sample of a laryngeal mass when traditional methods were unsuccessful.…”