Very Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Neoplasia, Tumor or Cancer, Guttural Pouch
Summary
The guttural pouches are paired outpocketings of the upper airway (pharynx). They are located near the throat-latch region of the neck. Major vessels and nerves supplying the head course through the walls of these pouches.
The guttural pouches are involved in cooling blood that passes to the brain through the large carotid arteries. They may also have a role in equalizing air pressure on the ear drum (tympanic membrane). The guttural pouch volume in an average horse is 300-500 ml each.
Guttural pouch tumors are rare. The most common is melanoma, usually seen in gray horses. Tumors in the guttural pouch may cause neck swelling and interfere with the nerves and vessels that run through the pouch. This may result in bleeding from the nostrils, difficulty swallowing and tongue weakness.
This diagnosis is made using biopsy through an endoscope. The pouches are accessed with an endoscope through the nasal passage, and into a small slit in the pharynx of the upper airway. A biopsy forceps takes a small sample of the mass to define the specific tumor type.
The guttural pouches are involved in cooling blood that passes to the brain through the large carotid arteries. They may also have a role in equalizing air pressure on the ear drum (tympanic membrane). The guttural pouch volume in an average horse is 300-500 ml each.
Guttural pouch tumors are rare. The most common is melanoma, usually seen in gray horses. Tumors in the guttural pouch may cause neck swelling and interfere with the nerves and vessels that run through the pouch. This may result in bleeding from the nostrils, difficulty swallowing and tongue weakness.
This diagnosis is made using biopsy through an endoscope. The pouches are accessed with an endoscope through the nasal passage, and into a small slit in the pharynx of the upper airway. A biopsy forceps takes a small sample of the mass to define the specific tumor type.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
The prognosis is generally poor due to the difficulty of completely removing a mass from the pouch without injuring the critical structures that run through the pouch.Prognosis depends on the specific tumor type, position/location of the mass and severity of signs. Laser surgery may be possible in some cases.
my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Very Common
Less Common
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- If surgery is not advised, is there anything that might slow the progression or reduce the signs of disease?