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, the histopathologic findings, surgical treatment and short-term follow-up.

Case Description:

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 or 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.

Outcome

En bloc resection of the mass was performed in lateral recumbency under general anaesthesia. Rostrally, 2 blood vessels connected to the mass were ligated and transected. The resulting tissue defect present after removal of the mass was packed with gauze and the skin was closed with simple interrupted sutures. The gauze was removed 2 days post-operatively. Histopathology results were consistent with a vascular malformation without convincing malignity. Short-term follow-up of 7 months revealed complete healing of the surgical site 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.