EQUINE | CPD Article
tissues). Topical therapy and ligation or
wide surgical excision are feasible in most
cases.
Subtype B2: there is deep involvement
which means that the tumor has a bound
down nature that precludes movement
of the skin over the area. This usually
indicates that the margins of the tumor
are diffuse and that it extends beyond the
subcutis. Treatment is problematic. than the stalk). This form is also called the
“Dumbell” form. The root component may
be diffuse and hard to identify clinically.
○ ○ Type 2: sessile fibroblastic lesions - in these
the base is wide and the surface almost always
fleshy and exudative. There may be secondary
inflammation/infection.
• Attempts at surgical excision frequently followed
by reappearance of increasingly aggressive tumor-
like mass.
Type IV - Fibroblastic sarcoid
• Fleshy fibroblastic appearance.
• Dermal and subdermal components are
common.
• More aggressive in appearance and
character.
• Small lesions often pedunculated,
ulcerated and red.
• May enlarge rapidly, especially on lower
limbs; or remain static, with periods of
apparent improvement and deterioration.
• Highly vascular and bleed easily.
• May develop following trauma to other
forms, or be associated with wound scars.
• Fibroblastic forms on the lips may erode
through to buccal cavity.
• Two forms are recognized:
○ ○ Type 1: pedunculated fibroblastic lesions with
a narrow neck and a fibroblastic proliferation:
- - Subtype A: in these there is no apparent
deep involvement. The tumor appears to
stop abruptly at the skin margin (usually
the deep tissues are palpably normal).
- - Subtype B: in these the narrow pedicle
acts as a bridge between the outer
(usually larger) component and the deeper
involvement. Palpation under these lesions
will reveal thickened abnormal tissue
of variable size (but this is always bigger Type V - Mixed verrucose, fibroblastic and nodular
sarcoid
• This classification should only be applied when
there is no predominate type and can comprise an
almost infinite variety of combinations.
• A wide variety of mixed lesions occur which may
represent transitions from the occult, verrucose
and nodular forms to more aggressive fibroblastic
forms.
• Majority of sarcoids covering large areas of groin,
face, axilla and trunk are of this form:
○ ○ Eye.
○ ○ Coronary band.
○ ○ Hock.
○ ○ Foot.
- -
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Type VI - Malignant sarcoid
• Particularly aggressive invasive fibroblastic tumor
that is recognizably destructive and proliferative
in nature.
• Common sites include face, elbow and medial
thigh regions. A particularly dangerous form
occurs in the immediate area around the eye.
• Spreads along lymphatics → extensive nodules and
ulcerating fibroblastic masses.
• Equine Health Update •