34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Vascular malformations are rarely reported in horses. This report describes a case of vascular malformation in the upper lip of a horse, histopathologic findings, surgical treatment and short-term follow-up.

Methods:

A 1-year-old Dutch Warmblood was referred to the clinic with swelling of the upper lip. The swelling had previously been drained by the referring veterinarian, but the swelling returned within a couple of hours. The drained fluid had a sanguineous appearance. On physical examination, the swelling presented as a soft fluctuant mass, not painful nor warm. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a subcutaneous cavity filled with anechogenic to hyperechogenic fluid, a present flow and a centrally located hyperechogenic soft tissue mass. There was suspicion of a connection between the cavity and a vascular structure. Radiographic examination revealed presence of calcifications in the mass.

Results:

En bloc resection of the mass was performed in lateral recumbency under general anesthesia. Rostrally, 2 blood vessels were connected to the mass and were ligated and transected. The resulting tissue defect present after removal of the mass was packed with gauzes and the skin was closed with simple interrupted sutures. The gauzes were removed 2 days post-operative. Histopathological analysis of the mass was performed. Histopathology results were consistent with a vascular malformation without convincing malignity. Short-term follow-up of 7 months revealed complete healing of the surgical wound and no recurrence of the swelling.

Conclusions:

This case report describes the diagnosis and successful treatment of a vascular malformation in the upper lip of a horse.