Six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach of the horse

Abstract

Summary 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. Résumé Six cas de carcinome squameux de l'estomac ont été rencontré chez le cheval au Collège de Médecine Vétérinaire de l'Etat de New York. On les compare avec 15 cas analogues précédem ment constates. Les signes cliniques comportaient dans tous les cas de l'inappétence, un amaigrissement, de la fièvre, de l'anémie, dans trois cas la possibilité de palper une masse abdominale, dans deux cas des signes de coliques et de la dysphagie dans l'un des cas. Les études hématologiques révélèrent une anémie normochronique et normo cytique dans 3 cas, une neutrophilie absolue dans 5 cas. Le liquide péritonéal fut analysé dans 4 cas et révèla une élévatin légère ou modérée du taux de proteines dans 3 cas, une élévation marquée des leucocytes dans 2 cas. Une laparotomie exploratrice fut effectué dans 3 cas et fut nécessaire au diagnostic. Les données recueillies suggèrent que la fréquence carcinome squameux de l'estomac chez le cheval devient fréquent et montre la nécessité d'études épidémiologiques. Zusammenfassung Sechs Fälle von Strachelzellcarcinom des Magens bei Pferden, die am New York State College of Veterinary Medicine beobachtet wurden, sollen mit fünfzehn ähnlich, früher beschriebenen Fällen verglichen werden. Die klinischen Zeichen umfassten in jedem Fall Anorexie, hochgradige Abmagerung, Fieber, Anaemie und/oder palpierbare abdominale Gebilde in drei, Kolik in zwei und Dysphagie in einem Fall. Die haematologische Untersuchung wies eine normochrome, normocytäre Anaemie bei drei und absolute Neutrophilie bei fünf Fällen nach. In vier Fällen wurde die Peritonaeal flüssigkeit untersucht: 3 Pferde wiesen einen erhöhten Gesamteiweissgehalt auf und zwei eine erhöhte Anzahl weisser Blutkörperchen. Eine Laparotomie, vorgenommen bei drei Tieren, erwies sich als wesentlich für die endgültige Diagnose. Die Befunde lassen vermuten, dass Stachelzellcarcinome des Magens beim Pferd häufiger werden könnten. Das Bedürfnis für prospektive epidemiologische Untersuchungen wird damit untermauert.

Gastric Neoplasia in Horses

“…The mean age at presentation was 18 years, both for total cases and for those with gastric SCC. This is higher than in previous reports in which the mean age at admission was 12 years (range 7–15 years) 6,15–22 . No breed or sex predilection has been identified.…”

“…Fever was likely caused by inflammation, secondary to neoplasia, and may have been an immune response to necrotic mass surfaces or leakage of gastric ingesta into the peritoneal cavity secondary to SCC in some horses. Pyrexia occurs in approximately 50% of horses with gastric neoplasia 6,19–21 . Tachypnea was a common clinical sign encountered at initial presentation in the current study.…”

“…Although a rectal examination was performed in only 25% of horses in this study, most were abnormal. Rectal palpation was valuable in detecting an intra‐abdominal mass in some horses with gastric neoplasia, as reported in previous literature, 19–22 although normal rectal palpation does not exclude metastatic gastric neoplasia 17,19,20 …”

“…Inappetance was the most common presenting complaint in the current study, and was most likely because of 1 or more space‐occupying lesion(s) in the gastric lumen, pain associated with the mass(es), gastric ulceration, peritonitis and/or esophagitis, esophageal obstruction, or lethargy. A reduced or absent appetite is the most common historical complaint in many reports of equine gastric neoplasia 6,17–21,23 . Weight loss was also common, and was likely caused by anorexia and cachexia associated with neoplasia.…”

Pyloric ulceration and stenosis in a two-year-old thoroughbred filly: a case report

“…However, metastasizing tumorous diseases of the stomach are associated with severe changes in the general state of health of the horse (Tennant et al, 1982). Morse and Richardson (1988) reported an exceptional case of a hyperplastic polyp in the stomach of a horse leading to duodenal obstruction.…”