Two Hundred Three Cases of Equine Lymphoma Classified According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification Criteria

Abstract

Lymphoma is the most common malignant neoplasm in the horse. Single case reports and small retrospective studies of equine lymphomas are reported infrequently in the literature. A wide range of clinical presentations, tumor subtypes, and outcomes have been described, and the diversity of the results demonstrates the need to better define lymphomas in horses. As part of an initiative of the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group, 203 cases of equine lymphoma have been gathered from 8 institutions. Hematoxylin and eosin slides from each case were reviewed and 187 cases were immunophenotyped and categorized according to the World Health Organization classification system. Data regarding signalment, clinical presentation, and tumor topography were also examined. Ages ranged from 2 months to 31 years (mean, 10.7 years). Twenty-four breeds were represented; Quarterhorses were the most common breed ( n = 55), followed by Thoroughbreds ( n = 33) and Standardbreds ( n = 30). Lymphomas were categorized into 13 anatomic sites. Multicentric lymphomas were common ( n = 83), as were skin ( n = 38) and gastrointestinal tract ( n = 24). A total of 14 lymphoma subtypes were identified. T-cell–rich large B-cell lymphomas were the most common subtype, diagnosed in 87 horses. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas ( n = 45) and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas ( n = 26) were also frequently diagnosed.