Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Extraskeletal chondroma of the tongue in a two-year-old quarter horse colt: a case report.
- Journal:
- Veterinary research communications
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Ralletti, Maria Virginia et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences · Italy
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A two-year-old Quarter Horse colt was found to have a rare type of benign tumor called an extraskeletal chondroma, which is made of mature cartilage and can develop in soft tissues. The colt was having trouble swallowing, and a firm mass was discovered at the base of his tongue. After imaging tests showed that the bone was not affected, the mass was surgically removed while the horse was under anesthesia, and a breathing tube was used to keep his airways clear. The surgery went well, and six months later, the colt was eating normally again with no signs of the tumor coming back. This case is the first known instance of this type of tumor in a horse's tongue, which helps veterinarians understand more about oral masses in horses.
Abstract
Extraskeletal chondromas (ESCs) are rare benign tumours composed of mature cartilage that typically develop in soft tissues. Their occurrence in horses is extremely uncommon and, to the authors' knowledge, no previous cases of lingual ESCs in equines have been reported. This report describes a two-year-old Quarter Horse colt presented with progressive dysphagia. Clinical examination revealed a solitary, multilobulated, firm-elastic mass located at the dorsal aboral portion (base) of the tongue. Diagnostic imaging ruled out bone involvement. The mass was surgically excised under general anaesthesia, with a tracheotomy performed to secure the airways; a histopathological diagnosis of ESC was achieved. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and at six months follow-up, the horse had fully returned to normal feeding behaviour, without signs of recurrence. This appears to be the first described case of an ESC affecting the tongue in horses, adding to the list of differential diagnoses for equine oral masses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41021142/