Soft tissue sarcomas in the pharyngeal region of a 5‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare

Summary

# Soft Tissue Sarcomas in the Equine Pharynx: A Case Report Multiple soft tissue sarcomas affecting the pharyngeal region are exceptionally rare in horses, making this case of a 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare a valuable addition to the clinical literature. The diagnostic approach combined physical examination, radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopic visualisation of the upper airway and guttural pouches, alongside post-mortem histopathology to confirm the final diagnosis. The mare presented with a chronic condition characterised by pharyngeal masses that proved progressive and ultimately incompatible with quality of life. Whilst surgical excision remains the primary therapeutic consideration for sarcomas in accessible locations, the extent and location of these lesions—coupled with poor long-term prognosis—necessitated euthanasia. For practitioners encountering persistent upper airway signs that fail to respond to conventional treatment, particularly in horses with chronically poor performance or dysphagia, histological confirmation of neoplastic disease should feature prominently in the diagnostic algorithm, as benign conditions are far more common but malignancy cannot be excluded on clinical grounds alone.

Read the full abstract on the publisher's site

Key Findings

• •Multiple soft tissue sarcomas identified in pharyngeal region of a 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare
• •Diagnostic imaging and endoscopy combined with post-mortem histopathology confirmed diagnosis
• •Chronicity and poor prognosis necessitated humane euthanasia despite diagnostic capability

Conditions Studied