Focal gingival hyperplasia in a horse

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 202; no. 8; p. 1287
• Main Authors: Handy, L.H. (University of Florida, Gainesville, FL), Peyton, L.C, Calderwood-Mays, M.B, Ackerman, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.04.1993
• Subjects: Animals; BOCA; BOUCHE; CABALLOS; CASE STUDIES; CHEVAL; Diagnosis, Differential; ELDERLY; ESTUDIOS DE CASOS PRACTICOS; ETUDE DE CAS; Gingival Hyperplasia - diagnosis; Gingival Hyperplasia - surgery; Gingival Hyperplasia - veterinary; HISTOPATHOLOGY; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horse Diseases - surgery; HORSES; Male; MOUTH; NEOPLASMAS; NEOPLASME; NEOPLASMS; OLD AGE; PATHOLOGIE; PATHOLOGY; PATOLOGIA; PERSONNE AGEE; Prognosis; RESECCION; RESECTION; TERCERA EDAD
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1993.202.08.1287

A diagnosis of gingival hyperplasia in a 22-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was confirmed by histologic examination. Clinical signs included difficulty eating hay, and a large, intraoral soft tissue mass measuring 13 x 8 x 4.5 cm. The mass was located in the mucosa on the lingual aspect of the caudal left portion of the mandible, ventral to the base of the tongue, and covered the second and third lower molars, extending rostrally along the buccal mucosa to the premolars. The left maxillary second and third molars were overgrown with sharp edges. Lateral radiography of the mandible revealed absence of the left third molar, with associated bony irregularity and sclerosis. The horse was positioned in right lateral recumbency under general anesthesia, and the entire mass was resected. It was speculated that the lesion developed secondary to chronic irritation from opposing teeth and food-packing after loss of the lower third molar; this would not be an unexpected development in a species with continuously advancing molars.