Equine Cutaneous Lymphoma

While horses can be affected by several different forms of cancer, cutaneous lymphoma is the rarest to occur. Lymphoma only occurs in about 1 percent of the horse population and the cutaneous form is the most unusual. This form of lymphoma only affects the skin and carries the best prognosis for long-term survival.

  1. Symptoms

    • Cutaneous lymphoma displays itself first as progressive, slow-developing masses or tumors in the skin. These are not usually painful for the horse, and the tumors will grow and recede over time. The horse may lose hair in the spot or develop skin sores.

    Diagnosis

    • Vets take a biopsy of the affected area with an excisional biopsy. If the mass is cancerous, the entire mass is taken out for a histopathologic evaluation for further diagnosis.

    Treatment

    • Daily treatment with corticosteroids reduces the size of tumors and reduce secondary symptoms. Systemic chemotherapy agents are also effective, although they are expensive and cause possible toxicity.

    Prognosis

    • Most cutaneous forms of lymphoma remain stable for years, with no serious consequences, if there is no internal organ involvement. Most horses afflicted with cutaneous lymphoma live a full life.

    Prevention

    • A horse's risk can be minimized if early signs are noticed. Be vigilant to changes that occur to the horse; check for lumps or swelling in areas that are commonly struck by cancer, and have any growths checked immediately.