Equine oncology Flashcards
Where do neoplasia’s most commonly occur in horses?
Skin
List the risk factors for neoplasia in horses
- Age
- Breed
- Sex
- Location
Melanomas are seen most commonly in which breed?
Lipizzaner
Ocular SCC are seen in which 2 breeds?
Shire
Clydesdale
How is sex a risk factor for tumours?
Male: penile SCC → but also SCC in other locations
UV exposure is a risk factor which which type of neoplasia?
SCC
What are paraneoplastic syndromes?
Diseases or a combination of signs that arise as a direct consequence of a tumour but not deriving from the simple physical presence of the tumour
- May be the earliest indicator of the presence of a tumour
Describe the 4 main groups of paraneoplastic syndromes
- Mucocutaneous and skin syndromes: paraneoplastic pemphigus, pruritus
- Neurological syndromes
- Haematological syndromes: anaemia, polycytaemia, granulocytosis
- Endocrine and metabolic: cachexia, hypercalcaemia, hypertrophic (pulmonary) osteopathy (Marie’s disease)
Which test can be used to diagnose neoplasia?
- Biopsy
- Imaging: US, radiography, endoscopy, CT, MRI
- Haematology, biochem, urinalysis
Name the 3 types of cancer therapy
Ablative
Cytotoxic
Biological
Describe ablative cancer therpay
Surgery
Laser
Cryotherapy
Hyperthermia
Describe cytotoxic cancer therapy
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Phototherapy
Electrochemotherapy
Describe biological cancer therapy
Immunotherapy
Vaccines
Cytokine therapy
Gene therapy
Name the most common haematopoietic neoplasia in horses
Lymphoma - less prevalent than in other spp
Name the 4 main forms of lymphoma
- Multicentric
- Alimentary
- Mediastinal, thoracic or thymic
- Cutaneous
Multicentric lymphoma is seen in which horses?
Mature young horses: 4-12y
What are the signs of multicentric lymphoma?
- Involvement of many organs and metastasis common
- Weight loss, depression, ventral oedema, recurrent fever
- Signs are vague so cases tend to present when advanced
How is multicentric lymphoma diagnosed?
Cytology or biopsy
How is multicentric lymphoma treated?
Surgical removal if solitary lesions, chemotherapy?
What is the most common intestinal neoplasia?
Alimentary lymphoma
How does alimentary lymphoma present?
Older horses: >12y
Signs: malabsorption, weight loss, colic
How is alimentary lymphoma diagnosed?
cytology (peritoneal fluid), biopsy
How does mediastinal, thoracic or thymic lymphoma present?
Most common thoracic neoplasia
Horses of all ages
Signs: weight loss, depression, ventral and limb oedema, pleural effusion
How is mediastinal, thoracic or thymic lymphoma diagnosed?
Cytology (pleural effusion), biopsy
