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Periocular sarcoid in a horse
András M Komáromy1, Stacy E Andrew, Dennis E Brooks
1Department of Small and Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA. komaromy@vet.upenn.edu
Veterinary Ophthalmology
|April 20, 2004
Summary
A periocular sarcoid in a mare resolved completely after surgical debulking and intralesional Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) therapy. This equine tumor treatment showed lasting success, with the horse remaining tumor-free two years post-therapy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Equine Sarcoid Research
Background:
- Equine sarcoids are locally aggressive fibroblastic tumors often affecting the periocular region.
- Surgical debulking is a common treatment but often results in recurrence.
- Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) has shown potential as an antitumoral agent.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with a periocular nodular sarcoid affecting both eyelids.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan delineated the tumor's extent.
- The mass was surgically debulked under general anesthesia.
Findings:
- Intralesional injection of modified Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) cell wall fraction emulsion was administered five times at 2-week intervals.
- The periocular sarcoid completely resolved 7 months after the final BCG injection.
- The mare remained tumor-free 2 years post-treatment, indicating long-term efficacy.
Implications:
- Intralesional BCG immunotherapy offers a promising, minimally invasive treatment option for equine periocular sarcoids.
- This approach may reduce recurrence rates compared to surgery alone.
- Further research into modified BCG formulations could enhance its antitumor activity and reduce adverse effects in veterinary oncology.