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Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common tumor of the equine stomach.<ref name="Olsen">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>. It can affect the cardia and upper squamous regions of the stomach, resulting in a persistent mild [[Colic Diagnosis - Clinical Signs|colic]], commonly seen soon after feeding.  The tumor can invade and metastasize to lymph nodes, the lungs and regions palpable on [[Colic Diagnosis - Rectal Examination|rectal examination]].<ref name="Olsen">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> The main clinical signs include '''weight loss''' and general ill health.(Merck)  '''Hypertrophic osteopathy''' associated with this neoplastic disease has been reported in one horse.<ref>Schleining, J.A, Voss, E.D (2004) Hypertophic osteopathy secondary to gastric squamous cell carcinoma in a horse.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 16:304-307.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> Diagnosis is made by exclusion of other causes of weight loss and gastroscopy.  In most cases, surgical resection is not possible<ref>East, L.M, Savage, C.J (1998) Abdominal neoplasia (excluding urogenital tract).  ''Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract'', 14:475-493.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> and the prognosis is grave.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common primary tumor of the equine stomach.<ref name="Olsen">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>  It can affect the cardia and upper squamous regions of the stomach, resulting in a persistent mild [[Colic Diagnosis - Clinical Signs|colic]], commonly seen soon after feeding.  The tumor can invade and metastasize to lymph nodes, the lungs and regions palpable on [[Colic Diagnosis - Rectal Examination|rectal examination]].<ref name="Olsen">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>

 

 

The main clinical signs include '''weight loss''' and general ill health.<ref name="Merck">Merck & Co (2008) '''The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition)''', ''Merial''.</ref>  Other signs may include anorexia, lethargy, abdominal distension, hypersalivation, pyrexia, tachypnoea, reduced borborygmi<ref name="Talor">Taylor S.D, Haldorson, G.J, Vaughan, B, Pusterla, N (2009) Gastric neoplasia in horses.  ''J Vet Intern Med'', 23(5):1097-102.</ref> and abnormal chewing and swallowing behaviour.<ref name="Olsen2">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.</ref> '''Hypertrophic osteopathy''' associated with this neoplastic disease has been reported in one horse.<ref>Schleining, J.A, Voss, E.D (2004) Hypertophic osteopathy secondary to gastric squamous cell carcinoma in a horse.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 16:304-307.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>

 

Diagnosis is usually made by exclusion of other causes of weight loss and '''gastroscopy'''.  '''Haematology''' may reveal a normocytic anaemia, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminaemia,<ref name="Olsen2">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.</ref>hyperfibrinogenaemia and hyperglobulinaemia.<ref name="McKenzie">McKenzie, E.C, Mills, J.N, Bolton, J.R (1997) Gastric squamous cell carcinoma in three horses.  ''Aust Vet J'', 75(7):480-3.</ref>  '''Hypercalcaemia of malignancy''' may also be noted.<ref name="Talor">Taylor S.D, Haldorson, G.J, Vaughan, B, Pusterla, N (2009) Gastric neoplasia in horses.  ''J Vet Intern Med'', 23(5):1097-102.</ref>  [[Abdominocentesis]] may demonstrate abnormal [[Colic - Peritoneal Fluid Analysis|peritoneal effusions]] with neoplastic cells, inflammatory exudates<ref name="McKenzie">McKenzie, E.C, Mills, J.N, Bolton, J.R (1997) Gastric squamous cell carcinoma in three horses.  ''Aust Vet J'', 75(7):480-3.</ref> and elevated total protein concentrations.<ref>Tennant, B, Keirn, D.R, White, K.K, Bentinck-Smith, J, King, J.M (1982) Six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach of the horse.  ''Equine Vet J'', 14(3):238-43.</ref>  [[Colic Diagnosis - Abdominal Ultrasound|Abdominal ultrasound]] may also help to locate metastases.  The most common finding in the stomach at ''post-mortem'' is a single ulcerated, necrotic mass in the squamous region.<ref name="Talor">Taylor S.D, Haldorson, G.J, Vaughan, B, Pusterla, N (2009) Gastric neoplasia in horses.  ''J Vet Intern Med'', 23(5):1097-102.</ref>  There may also be nodules lining the peritoneum.<ref name="Olsen2">Olsen, S.N (1992) Squamous-cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of 5 cases.  ''Vet Rec'', 131:170-173.</ref>

 

In most cases, surgical resection is not possible<ref>East, L.M, Savage, C.J (1998) Abdominal neoplasia (excluding urogenital tract).  ''Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract'', 14:475-493.  In: Zimmel, D.N (2010) ''Neoplasia of the Alimentary Tract'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> and the prognosis is grave, with a short survival time after diagnosis.<ref name="Talor">Taylor S.D, Haldorson, G.J, Vaughan, B, Pusterla, N (2009) Gastric neoplasia in horses.  ''J Vet Intern Med'', 23(5):1097-102.</ref>