Surgical Treatment of Mammary Melanoma in a Mare; A Case Report

Year 2025, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 22 - 25, 30.06.2025

Muhammet Ali Karadağ , Merve Sena Demir , Semra Kaya , Celal Şahin Ermutlu , Emin Karakurt , Duygu Kaya

Abstract

Mammary tumours are exceptionally uncommon in horses, whereas melanomas are frequently observed in gray horses. Limited information is available regarding the treatment options and corresponding success rates for such cases. This case report aims to describe the surgical treatment of a malignant melanoma in a gray mare. A 5-year-old dark gray mare weighing 440 kg was referred to Kafkas University Animal Health Education Research and Practice Hospital due to a slowly growing pigmented mass located in her right peri-mammary region. Detailed clinical examination and lung X-ray did not reveal any specific metastatic findings. Ultrasonography (USG) and Doppler examination showed an oval solid hypoechoic mass with a well-defined hyperechoic margin and limited vascularization. Surgical extraction of the mass was successfully performed under inhalation anesthesia. Histopathological examination of the removed tumoral mass revealed numerous spindles or epithelioid-shaped neoplastic cells containing large brownish-black granular melanin pigments in their cytoplasm, which were widely distributed throughout the mass. This case demonstrates that careful post-operative monitoring can lead to successful outcomes in the surgical management of rare conditions such as mammary gland carcinomas in mares. However, further studies are needed for long-term follow-up of survival rates.

Keywords

Mare , melanoma , surgical treatment

Kısrakta Meme Bölgesindeki Melanomun Cerrahi Tedavisi; Olgu Raporu

Abstract

Atlarda meme tümörleri son derece nadir görülürken melanomlar kır donlu atlarda sıklıkla görülür. Bu gibi
durumlarda tedavi seçenekleri ve ilgili başarı oranları hakkında sınırlı bilgi mevcuttur. Bu olgu raporu, bir
kısrakta meme bölgesinde tespit edilen malign melanomun cerrahi tedavisini tanımlamaktadır. Kafkas
Üniversitesi Hayvan Sağlığı Eğitim Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi'ne getirilen ve sağ meme bölgesinde
yavaş büyüyen pigmente kitle bulunan 5 yaşlı, 440 kg ağırlığındaki kır donlu kısrağın ayrıntılı klinik
muayenesinde ve akciğer röntgeninde spesifik bir metastatik bulguya rastlanmadı. Ultrasonografi (USG)
ve doppler incelemesinde, hiperekoik sınırı iyi tanımlanmış, oval, katı, hipoekoik merkezli ve
vaskülarizasyonu zayıf kitle görüntülendi. İnhalasyon anestezisi altında kitlenin eksizyonu başarıyla
gerçekleştirildi. Tümöral kitlenin histopatolojik incelemesinde, sitoplazmalarında kitle boyunca yaygın
olarak dağılmış, büyük kahverengimsi-siyah granüler melanin pigmentleri içeren çok sayıda iğ veya
epiteloid şekilli neoplastik hücre tespit edildi. Bu vaka, kısraklarda meme bezi karsinomları gibi nadir
görülen durumlarda cerrahi tedavi seçeneğinin uygulanabilir olduğu, post operatif süreçte yakın takibin
operasyon başarısını artırabileceğini göstermektedir. Ancak hayatta kalma oranlarının uzun vadeli takibi
için daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

Kısrak , melanom , Cerrahi tedavi

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