Ganglioglioma of the Right Cerebrothalamus in a 7-Year-Old Quarter Horse Cross Gelding.
Authors: Easton-Jones Charlotte, Woolard Kevin, Mohr F Charles, Roy Melissa A, Aleman Monica
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Ganglioglioma of the Right Cerebrothalamus in a 7-Year-Old Quarter Horse Cross Gelding Intracranial tumours are uncommon in horses, and gangliogliomas—a mixed glial and neuronal neoplasia—have never been documented in equine medicine until this case. A 7-year-old Quarter Horse cross gelding presenting with rapidly escalating seizure activity (reaching 20 episodes daily over one year) underwent comprehensive neurological, electroencephalographic, and post-mortem examination, revealing a focal right cerebrothalamic mass with extension into the rostral brainstem. Neurological signs correlated precisely with right-sided brain disease: left-sided upper motor facial and tongue weakness, facial hyperesthesia, proprioceptive deficits, and characteristic seizure semiology including vocalisations, vertical nystagmus, and unilateral head tilt. Electroencephalography localised epileptiform activity to the right central, parietal, and occipital regions, with additional subclinical paroxysmal discharges detected between clinical episodes, ultimately enabling definitive immunohistochemical identification of ganglioglioma. For equine practitioners managing seizure cases with progressive frequency and duration, this report expands the differential diagnosis for intracranial pathology and underscores the diagnostic value of EEG and advanced imaging in localising brain lesions; whilst the rarity of such neoplasia means prognosis remains poor, recognition of this condition in affected horses may improve diagnostic accuracy and guide realistic client counselling regarding long-term outcomes.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses with recurrent, progressive seizures warrant advanced diagnostic investigation including EEG and advanced imaging to rule out intracranial neoplasia, which was previously thought extremely rare in this species.
- •Focal neurological signs (one-sided facial weakness, head tilt, proprioceptive deficits) accompanying seizure activity suggest localized intracranial disease rather than generalized causes.
- •Prognosis for intracranial ganglioglioma in horses remains unknown; this case expands the differential diagnosis list but treatment options are currently limited in equine practice.
Key Findings
- •First reported case of ganglioglioma (a mixed neuroglial tumor) in an equine patient, located in the right cerebrothalamus.
- •Seizure frequency increased to 20 episodes daily over 1-year progression period with characteristic focal neurological signs including left-sided hemiparesis and proprioceptive deficits.
- •Electroencephalogram localized seizure activity to right central, parietal, and occipital regions, correlating with imaging-confirmed tumor location.
- •Intracranial ganglioglioma should be considered in differential diagnosis for horses presenting with progressive seizures and focal neurological deficits.