Collision tumour affecting the paranasal sinuses of a geriatric donkey

Abstract

Tumours of the paranasal sinuses are relatively uncommon in the horse. A collision tumour occurs when 2 separate tumour types arise in close proximity to each other and encroach on one another. This report describes the presence of neoplasia comprising glandular tissue and spindle cells growing concurrently in the frontal and caudal maxillary sinus of a geriatric donkey. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first description of a possible collision tumour in an equid.

Neoplasia in 125 donkeys (Equus asinus)

“…Several rare tumors of donkeys not observed in our survey but documented in the literature include: a mastocytoma in the jugular groove of a 10-year-old male donkey 25 ; bilateral Leydig cell tumors incidentally found in a donkey at slaughter 18 ; uterine fibrosarcoma associated with colic in a jenny successfully treated with ovariohysterectomy 4 ; fibrous dysplasia or ossifying fibroma in the maxillary sinus of a 9-year-old gelding 12 ; a collision tumor with glandular and spindle cell components in the paranasal sinus of a 28-year-old male miniature donkey 55 ; and 2 osteosarcomas, 1 of the distal phalanx in an 18-year-old gelding 36 and 1 of radius and ulna with metastases to lymph nodes and liver in a 10-year-old gelding. 27 Both osteosarcomas occurred in bones of the limb, whereas osteosarcomas in the horse, although very rare, are usually found in the skull or mandible, and the involvement of 2 adjacent bones (radius and ulna) with metastasis to lymph node and liver is not typical of osteosarcoma in any species.…”

Geriatric sinus tumours – is there hope for the future?

“…This case report adds another type of tumour to the long list of potential suspects causing neoplasia in the sinus and nasal passages of horses. Many reports, such as with this donkey (Witte et al . 2012) describe detection and treatment when the tumour is already quite large and occupying all or more of the sinus of origin.…”

“…The accompanying case report by Witte et al . (2012) not only continues to expand our knowledge of different paranasal sinus tumours, their clinical presentation and behaviour, but also raises some interesting questions regarding the veterinary care and decision making when considering tumours in geriatric patients.…”

“…Communications with the owners and individual assessments are obviously crucial. However, not only does the general advancement of knowledge of different tumour types and their behaviour after surgical resection depend on individual cases such as Witte et al . (2012) but at an individual animal level there are also many reasons to perform surgery.…”

“…Publications such as Witte et al . (2012) help to improve our general knowledge but also point us towards trying to accumulate more knowledge through multicentre cooperation.…”