What is horse hemangiosarcoma?

Hemangiosarcomas are uncommon neoplasms in horses. These malignant tumors are composed of neoplastic endothelial cells often lining variably-sized vascular spaces (Fig. 1). As a result, hemorrhage is a common clinical and histologic feature.

What causes eye cancer in horses?

Ocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common form of eye cancer in horses. UV light exposure is a predisposing factor for ocular SCC development. Ocular SCC can cause visual impairment or blindness and can be life threatening. Early detection of tumors may lead to a more successful outcome.

What does eye cancer look like in horses?

Signs include squinting, and runny and red eyes, but horses may also show no discomfort. Initial lesions appear as red, bumpy tissue on the eyelid, third eyelid (i.e., the triangular-shaped tissue at the inner corner of the horse’s eye), or limbus (i.e., the area where the cornea meets the white tissue).

How does hemangiosarcoma start?

It is suspected that in the skin, hemangiosarcoma is caused by sun exposure. Occasionally, hemangiosarcoma of the skin can be a metastasis from visceral hemangiosarcoma. Other sites the tumor may occur include bone, kidneys, the bladder, muscle, the mouth, and the central nervous system.

Can hemangiosarcoma be misdiagnosed?

Even when a tumor sample is obtained, there is always the potential that the selected section of tumor that is submitted for histopathologic evaluation is not representative of majority of the tumor, and a misdiagnosis can be made.

What is squamous cell carcinoma of the eye?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva is the end-stage of a spectrum of disease referred to as ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). OSSN is a malignant disease of the eyes that can lead to loss of vision and, in severe cases, death.

Is hemangiosarcoma fast growing?

Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly growing, highly invasive variety of cancer that occurs almost exclusively in dogs, and only rarely in cats, horses, mice, or humans (vinyl chloride toxicity).

Does hemangiosarcoma show up in blood work?

There is presently no readily available, effective test for early diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma. Careful analysis of blood samples by experienced pathologists may hint at the presence of chronic hemorrhage and blood vessel abnormalities that are suggestive of hemangiosarcoma.

What is the most common cancer in horses?

The three most commonly reported cancers in horses are squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and sarcoid tumors.

How serious is squamous cell carcinoma in the eye?

How fast does hemangiosarcoma spread?

Surgery is the primary method of treatment for most dogs with hemangiosarcoma, regardless of the location of the primary tumor. In most of these patients, the cancer will spread to other sites throughout the body 1-3 months after surgery.

What does hemangiosarcoma look like?

Dermal Hemangiosarcoma The skin form looks like a rosy red or even black growth on the skin. This form is associated with sun exposure and thus tends to form on non-haired or sparsely-haired skin (such as on the abdomen) or on areas with white fur.

How do vets test for hemangiosarcoma?

Regardless of location, hemangiosarcoma is most often diagnosed via biopsy. It is usually difficult to diagnose using fine needle aspirate cytology because tumors are fragile and prone to bleeding, resulting in non-diagnostic samples.

Is cancer in horses treatable?

Many cancers affecting horses are treatable, so monitoring your horse for cancer and seeking prompt veterinary care for any suspicious lumps or bumps can lead to many more healthy years together. Approximately 80% of reported cancers in horses are associated with the skin or the tissue layer beneath the skin.