Endoscopic Laser Ablation of a Midline Cyst of the Colliculus Seminalis as a Treatment for Anejaculation in a Stallion.
Authors: Pozor Malgorzata A, McCarrel Taralyn M, Perez Jimenez Erik E, Macpherson Margo L, Kelleman Audrey A, Shelton Kevin E
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Endoscopic Laser Ablation for Colliculus Seminalis Cyst in Stallions An 18-year-old Appaloosa stallion with progressive ejaculatory dysfunction presented with complete anejaculation, attributed to a midline cyst of the colliculus seminalis that was compressing and occluding both deferent ducts, which were themselves enlarged and filled with echogenic material. The clinicians adapted a human urological procedure—ultrasound-guided endoscopic laser ablation—to collapse the cyst and restore patency of the ejaculatory tract under general anaesthesia. Following the procedure, the stallion successfully expelled accumulated seminal material and subsequently produced morphologically normal semen with sufficient fertility to impregnate mares during the next breeding season, with no immediate or delayed complications reported. This case is particularly valuable for equine practitioners because colliculus seminalis cysts represent an uncharacterised cause of anejaculation in stallions without established treatment protocols, making this the first documented application of endoscopic laser ablation in this species for this indication. Whilst single-case outcomes must be interpreted cautiously, this report provides a minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgical approaches and may encourage further investigation into both the prevalence of this condition and the efficacy of this technique across a broader population of affected stallions.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Endoscopic ultrasound-guided laser ablation offers a novel treatment option for colliculus seminalis cysts causing anejaculation in stallions when traditional management fails.
- •Transrectal ultrasound is an effective diagnostic tool for identifying midline cysts and associated deferent duct compression in stallions with ejaculatory dysfunction.
- •This procedure adapted from human urology may be considered for stallions with ejaculatory problems refractory to conventional treatments, though long-term outcome data remain limited to single cases.
Key Findings
- •An 18-year-old stallion with complete deferent duct occlusion from a midline colliculus seminalis cyst was successfully treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided laser ablation.
- •Following cyst ablation and expulsion of accumulated material, the stallion produced normal semen with no immediate or long-term complications.
- •The treated stallion successfully impregnated mares during the subsequent breeding season, demonstrating restoration of reproductive function.