Ovarian hemangioma in swine

Eighteen (3.9%) ovarian hemangiomas were diagnosed in a survey of reproductive disorders in 460 sows from two to eight years of age during a three-year study. Ovarian hemangiomas only were observed in sows aged over 30 months, and no such neoplasms were found in 42 gilts. The incidence of ovarian hemangioma was highest at five to eight years of age. Of the 18 sows with ovarian hemangioma, one was purebred and 17 were crossbred pigs; of these, twelve had farrowed 12 to 15 litters, four had farrowed six to 11 litters and two had farrowed three litters. All 18 sows with ovarian hemangioma had one or more clinical signs related to reproductive disorders including small litter size, agalactia, fertilization failure, fetal death, silent estrus, anestrus, abortion, and stillbirth. The pathological features of the neoplasms in sows were similar to those described previously in swine and in man. Spontaneous ovarian hemangioma might provide a model for investigation of the etiology and pathogenesis of ovarian hemangioma in man.