4. Conclusions
The case described herein illustrates the challenges of diagnosing lymphoma antemortem in the horse. It suggests that lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for a horse presenting with ataxia and neurologic deficits. This case further illustrates the importance of performing histology in addition to the gross post-mortem examination. Had histology not been pursued in this case, the multicentric round cell sarcoma with extensive epidural involvement would have been missed as the gross lesions were very subtle and not suggestive of neoplasia at the time of examination. Further testing with immunohistochemistry phenotyping confirmed the diagnosis of multicentric diffuse large B cell lymphosarcoma.
Authors’ declaration of interests
No conflicts of interest have been declared.
Ethical animal research
No experimental animals were used in this case report.
Source of funding
None
Acknowledgements
None
Authorship All the authors participated in the article preparation and have approved the final version.
References
de Lahunta, A. and Glass, E. (2009) Large animal spinal cord disease.In: Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology, Eds: A. deLahunta, and E. Glass, St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. pp 285–318
Durham, A.C., Pillitteri, C.A., San Myint, M. and Valli, V.E. (2013) Two hundred three cases of equine lymphoma classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria. Vet. Pathol. 50 , 86–93.
Finding, E.J.T., Ciasca, T., Pinilla, M.J., Driver, C.J., Johns, I.C., Weller, R. and Volk, H.A. (2014) Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of spinal lymphoma in a pony. Equine Veterinary Education 26 , 303–305.
Hirsch, J.E., Grant, B.D., Linovitz, R., Peppers, T.A. and Rantanen, N.W. (2009) Diagnosis and surgical treatment of epidural neoplasms in two ataxic horses. Equine Veterinary Education 21 , 564–568.
Knowles, E.J., Tremaine, W.H., Pearson, G.R. and Mair, T.S. (2016) A database survey of equine tumours in the United Kingdom. Equine Vet. J. 48 , 280–284.
Mayhew, I. G., deLahunta, A., Whitlock, R. H., Krook, L. and Tasker, J.B.(1978) Spinal cord disease in the horse. Cornell Vet. 68, 1–207.
Meyer, J., DeLay, J. and Bienzle, D. (2006) Clinical, Laboratory, and Histopathologic Features of Equine Lymphoma. Vet. Pathol. 43 , 914–924.
Morrison, L.R., Freel, K., Henderson, I., Hahn, C. and Smith, S.H. (2008) Lymphoproliferative Disease with Features of Lymphoma in the Central Nervous System of a Horse. J. Comp. Pathol. 139 , 256.
Muñoz, A., Riber, C., Trigo, P. and Castejón, F. (2009) Hematopoietic neoplasias in horses: myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders. Journal of Equine Science 20 , 59–72.
Savage, C.J. (1998) Lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders. Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice 14 , 563–578.
Schneider, D.A. (2003) Lymphoproliferative and Myeloproliferative Disorders. Editor(s): N. Edward Robinson, Current Therapy in Equine Medicine (Fifth Edition), W.B. Saunders, 2003, Pages 359-362.
Sheard, L. and McGovern, K. (2021) Equine lymphoma: a review.UK-Vet Equine 5 , 206–214.
Taintor, J. and Schleis, S. (2011) Equine lymphoma. Equine Veterinary Education 23 , 205–213.