here - Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
here - Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
here - Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
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horse with fibroblastic sarcoids can result in the appearance <strong>of</strong> sarcoids in other<br />
previously uninfected horses on the farm within 6-8 months.<br />
The distribution <strong>of</strong> lesions varies with type <strong>of</strong> sarcoid and geographical location. The<br />
para-genital region is most frequently and the limbs least affected in the UK. In<br />
Queensland (Australia) the majority <strong>of</strong> lesions occur on the head, neck and limbs<br />
and very rarely in the para-genital region (Pascoe & Summers (1981). A recent study<br />
<strong>of</strong> sarcoid cases in the UK showed single and small numbers <strong>of</strong> sarcoids (2-8<br />
sarcoids per horse) were uncommon, w<strong>here</strong>as 10 to several thousand are more<br />
common. The majority <strong>of</strong> lesions seen in UK horses are occult or verrucous, with at<br />
least six major types described (Knottenbelt et al 1995)<br />
The distribution <strong>of</strong> the six types show great variation with a preponderance <strong>of</strong><br />
fibroblastic tumours occurring in the para-genital area; in Australia almost all leg<br />
sarcoids are a fibroblastic type. Sarcoids have a high capacity to invade the dermis<br />
and subcutis. True metastatic dissemination does not appear to occur. Sarcoids can<br />
occur in fresh healing wounds in previously normal horses, or re-occur at the same<br />
site following apparent complete surgical removal.<br />
Six clinical entities:<br />
1.Verrucous (warty) type<br />
Definition<br />
These tend to be slow-growing and not very aggressive until injured in some fashion,<br />
e.g. biopsy, rubbing. poor surgical removal<br />
Clinical presentation<br />
Wart-like growth on and above skin, may be sessile or pedunculated.<br />
Slow growing. Trauma to surface may convert them to a fibroblastic reaction.<br />
(Pascoe 1990)<br />
Differential diagnosis<br />
Papillomatosis, chronic blistering, hyperkeratosis (chronic sweet itch), equine<br />
sarcoidosis (chronic granulomatous disease) squamous cell carcinoma.<br />
Diagnosis<br />
Biopsy: preferably total wide excision followed by cryotherapy<br />
2.Fibroblastic type<br />
Definition<br />
A more aggressive tumour, particularly when located on the lower limbs and<br />
coronet.<br />
68<br />
ACVSC Proceedings Dermatology Chapter Science Week 2005
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