Abstract

Ocular squamous cell carcinoma affects the equine eye and adnexa. A 12-year-old female non-descript horse was presented with a history of progressively developed, highly inflamed protruding mass with reddish discharge on the right eye noticed since six months. Detailed history from the owner revealed that the lesion initially started as a protrusion from the eyelid and later progressed to an ulcerating mass. Based on the history and clinical findings, the condition was tentatively diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The physiological and haematological parameters were within the normal limits. The horse was premedicated with xylazine at a dose rate of 1.1 mg/kg body weight and butorphanol at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg body weight. General anaesthesia was induced and maintained with ketamine hydrochloride at a dose rate of 2.2 mg/kg body weight. Additionally, retrobulbar nerve block was induced with 2 % lignocaine hydrochloride. After establishing a sterile surgical field, orbital exenteration was performed. Histopathological examination of stained tissue sections confirmed the condition as squamous cell carcinoma. The horse made an uneventful recovery without any recurrence after nine months of follow-up.

Keywords : Squamous cell carcinoma, neoplasm, horse, exenteration, eyelids, uneventful recovery