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Disseminated hemangiosarcoma in the horse: 35 cases
L L Southwood1, H C Schott, C J Henry
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, USA.
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|February 11, 2000
Summary
Disseminated hemangiosarcoma affects mature horses, commonly impacting the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. This cancer often presents with anemia and swelling, necessitating its consideration in horses with unexplained hemorrhages.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Equine Oncology
Background:
- Disseminated hemangiosarcoma is a rare but aggressive vascular tumor.
- Understanding its clinical presentation and pathological findings in horses is crucial for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinicopathological features of disseminated hemangiosarcoma in horses.
- To identify common clinical signs, affected organs, and diagnostic findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 35 equine cases (21 clinical, 14 historical).
- Analysis of clinical data, physical examination findings, and clinicopathological results.
- Evaluation of postmortem and biopsy/aspirate tissue samples.
Main Results:
- Affects mature horses with no sex predilection; Thoroughbreds may be overrepresented.
- Commonly affects respiratory and musculoskeletal systems, presenting with dyspnea, swelling, epistaxis, and lameness.
- Frequent findings include anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and involvement of lungs, pleura, skeletal muscle, and spleen.
Conclusions:
- Hemangiosarcoma should be a differential diagnosis in horses with hemorrhage into body cavities, muscle, or subcutaneous tissues.
- Antemortem diagnosis is challenging, often requiring postmortem examination.