Uterine adenocarcinoma in Quarter Horse mare
Authors: Lopez C., Ciccarelli M., Gold J. R., Tibary A.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary A 16-year-old Quarter Horse mare presenting with fever, stranguria, anorexia and progressive weight loss was found to have a cervical and uterine mass on transrectal examination, with cervical biopsy confirming endometrial adenocarcinoma—a rare neoplasia in horses with a grave prognosis. Thoracic ultrasonography identified multiple lung consolidations and pleural involvement, which post-mortem examination revealed to be metastatic disease alongside involvement of the urinary bladder, ureters, tracheobronchial lymph nodes and bone marrow. This case report highlights the advanced nature of uterine adenocarcinoma at clinical presentation and underscores the importance of considering this diagnosis in older mares presenting with non-specific signs of systemic illness, particularly when transrectal findings suggest an abnormal uterine or cervical mass. The multi-organ metastatic spread evident in this animal demonstrates why early recognition and intervention—guided by biopsy confirmation rather than palpation alone—remains critical for any potential therapeutic consideration, though prognosis is uniformly poor once clinical signs manifest. For equine practitioners, this case serves as a reminder that cryptic weight loss and stranguria in geriatric mares warrant thorough reproductive tract evaluation and a low threshold for tissue sampling when abnormalities are detected.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Uterine adenocarcinoma is a rare but serious diagnosis in mares; fever, stranguria, anorexia and weight loss warrant investigation of uterine disease even in older animals
- •Transrectal palpation combined with cervical biopsy can achieve antemortem diagnosis, allowing for appropriate management decisions
- •Advanced metastatic disease at presentation suggests poor prognosis; consider this diagnosis when systemic signs are accompanied by evidence of multi-organ involvement
Key Findings
- •A 16-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented with fever, stranguria, anorexia and weight loss secondary to uterine adenocarcinoma
- •Cervical biopsy provided antemortem diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with transrectal palpation identifying a mass at the cervix and uterine body
- •Post-mortem examination confirmed metastasis to urinary bladder, ureters, lungs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes and bone marrow