Critical surgical affections at pharyngeal region in horses

Abstract

The present study was performed for diagnosis and surgical management of critical surgical affections at the pharyngeal region in horses. It was carried out on a total number of 10 horses. Radiographical and histopathological examinations were performed to confirm the diagnosis in addition to endoscopic examination for subepiglottic cyst. Surgical and endoscopic interventions were performed. A subepiglottic cyst was diagnosed in a mare as a voluminous mass rostral to the epiglottis through endoscopic examination. A thyroglossal duct cyst was found in a filly foal as a large banana like, cystic fluctuant mass at the left retropharyngeal region. A melanotic melanoma was detected in a mare as a distinct midline cranial ventral cervical mass. Guttural pouch empyema was recorded in 7 horses. It could be concluded that surgical and endoscopic treatments were curative for management of such affections without recurrence. Also, thyroglossal duct cyst should be included as a differential diagnosis when encountering a foal with a fluid filled mass at the lateral retropharyngeal region.