Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026
Fully Endoscopic Mitral Valve Repair with Percutaneous Cannulation of Groin Vessels
Published on: May 26, 2023
Cardiovascular images: vascular hamartoma of the mitral valve in a horse
M J DiVincenzo1, J D Bonagura2, L Rings2
1Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Insights
A rare vascular hamartoma caused severe mitral valve disease in an 8-month-old horse, leading to euthanasia. This finding highlights an unusual cause of cardiac dysfunction in veterinary medicine.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Pathology
- Equine Medicine
Background:
- Mitral valve disease can significantly impact equine health and performance.
- Vascular hamartomas are rare benign tumors typically found in other species.
- Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for managing cardiac conditions in horses.
Observation:
- An 8-month-old Hanoverian gelding presented with newly developed cardiac murmurs.
- Echocardiography revealed severe mitral valve thickening, stenosis, and regurgitation.
- Postmortem examination identified a vascular hamartoma on the mitral valve.
Findings:
- The vascular hamartoma caused significant mitral valvular dysfunction, leading to left-sided volume overload and pulmonary hypertension.
- Histological examination confirmed the lesion as a vascular hamartoma, a previously undescribed cardiac finding in veterinary species.
- The lesion's severity and associated cardiac dysfunction resulted in a poor prognosis.
Implications:
- This case expands the differential diagnosis for equine valvular disease.
- It underscores the importance of thorough histopathological examination for diagnosing rare cardiac lesions.
- Understanding this condition can aid in differentiating it from more common valvular abnormalities in horses.
Abstract:
An 8-month-old Hanoverian gelding was presented with a history of cardiac murmurs that were not apparent as a foal nor reported at the time of castration. Major echocardiographic findings included mitral valvular thickening, functional stenosis, and mitral regurgitation of sufficient severity to cause diastolic and systolic cardiac murmurs, left-sided volume overload, and pulmonary hypertension. Due to the hemodynamic severity of the lesion and poor prognosis for future performance and longevity, euthanasia was elected. On gross postmortem examination, there was focal fibrous epicarditis affecting the heart base, and the left atrium was moderately dilated. The mitral valve surface was irregular and contained several nodules along the atrial face of the cusp. Histologically, this lesion was diagnosed as a vascular hamartoma, which is rarely reported in veterinary species and has not been described in heart valves. This benign proliferative lesion, and concurrent valvular dysfunction, was associated with an unusual manifestation of clinically evident disease and should be differentiated from common incidental valvular lesions such as hematocysts.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
01:22Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management
01:19Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for...