Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Widespread Metastases in an Arabian Mare.
- Journal:
- Veterinary medicine and science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Azari, Omid et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgery and Radiology
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report discusses a serious case involving a 20-day-old Arabian mare who developed a large kidney tumor called renal cell carcinoma, which caused her to have mild abdominal pain after giving birth. After her condition worsened, a vet found that she had a very fast heart rate, trouble breathing, and pale gums, along with a large mass in her abdomen. During surgery, the vet discovered a huge tumor in her left kidney that had spread to other organs, making the situation critical. Unfortunately, due to the extent of the disease, the mare was euthanized during the operation. A later examination revealed that the tumor weighed 23 kilograms and had spread to her liver, diaphragm, and lungs, confirming the diagnosis of cancer.
Abstract
This report describes a case of massive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) causing mild chronic colic in a 20-day-postpartum Arabian mare. The mare presented with deteriorating abdominal pain following normal parturition. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea, weak intestinal motility and pale mucosal membranes. Rectal examination identified a very large mass in the caudal part of the abdominal cavity, and abdominal ultrasound examination revealed a huge space-occupying mass with renal architecture. During midline exploratory laparotomy, a massive tumour was observed in the anatomical location of the left kidney, with numerous adhesions to abdominal organs. Due to the severity of the condition and intra-abdominal spread of the neoplasm, the horse was euthanized intraoperatively. Upon necropsy, a 23-kg mass was found in the left kidney, along with widespread metastases to the liver, diaphragm and lungs. Histopathological examination confirmed primary and metastatic papillary RCC. This case highlights that colic should be considered a potential symptom of neoplastic lesions within the abdomen.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40172015/