Study of laryngopharyngeal pathology in Thoroughbred horses in southern California.
Authors: Diab S, Pascoe J, Shahriar M, Read D, Kinde H, Moore J, Odani J, Uzal F
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Laryngopharyngeal pathology in Thoroughbred racehorses Subepiglottic ulcers have long been suspected by trainers and clinicians of undermining racing performance in Thoroughbreds, yet little objective evidence existed regarding their prevalence or nature. Diab and colleagues examined laryngopharyngeal tissues from 91 racehorses submitted for post-mortem examination at Southern California tracks, using gross and histopathological assessment to characterise any abnormalities present. Overall, 14.3% of horses showed some laryngopharyngeal pathology; crucially, 7.7% had subepiglottic lesions specifically (including four ulcers, two soft palate kissing lesions, and one scar), whilst a further 8.8% presented with lesions elsewhere in the laryngopharynx such as mucosal ulcerations and arytenoid chondropathy. Histologically, the subepiglottic ulcers displayed chronic-active characteristics with viable hyperplastic margins, suggesting capacity for healing with appropriate intervention—a notably more optimistic finding than might have been anticipated. The authors highlight a critical examination gap: routine standing endoscopy typically fails to visualise subepiglottic tissues adequately, potentially causing clinically significant lesions to be missed during pre-purchase or lameness investigations. Whilst this study confirms that subepiglottic abnormalities are indeed common in racehorses, the authors appropriately emphasise that presence of pathology does not necessarily equate to clinical impact on performance, and further prospective studies correlating lesion type with athletic function are essential before drawing firm conclusions about treatment necessity.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Standard standing endoscopy frequently fails to visualize subepiglottic tissues; consider additional imaging or endoscopy techniques if laryngopharyngeal disease is suspected in underperforming racehorses
- •Finding a subepiglottic ulcer on examination does not automatically explain poor performance—correlation with clinical signs is essential before attributing performance issues to these lesions
- •Subepiglottic ulcers show pathological evidence of chronicity with potential for healing, suggesting they may respond to appropriate medical management
Key Findings
- •14.3% of Thoroughbred racehorses had at least one laryngopharyngeal abnormality at post-mortem
- •7.7% had subepiglottic lesions including 4.4% with subepiglottic ulcers
- •Subepiglottic ulcers were chronic-active with viable hyperplastic margins suggesting capacity for healing with treatment
- •Subepiglottic lesions are commonly missed during routine standing endoscopy and may not correlate with clinical problems