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  Discussion on Bumps in girth area
Author Message
Member:
Lindac

Posted on Saturday, Nov 15, 2003 - 10:22 pm:

Dr.O:
This past summer my horse developed a small pea size growth in the girth area. It was not movable and felt like it was attached to the muscle tissue. The area would swell up after riding and then subside after about a day. She never displayed any signs of soreness when the area was manipulated. I decided to have the lump removed due to the swelling factor. The incision was very small (3 stitches) and the growth removed had a gristle-like appearance to it. There was no biopsy done. The area became extremely swollen afterwards and stayed that way for about 8 to 10 days before gradually subsiding. It has now been about 8 weeks since the surgery and I once again have a small firm pea size lump. It's like it was never removed. Then just today I felt a similar growth in the same spot on her other side (almost like a mirror image). This one however has a more fibrous vein-like feel to it.
This is an older horse (18 yrs.) and she has always had small protruding blood veins that run close to the surface in her girth area. They are exactly like the blood veins you would find on a human hand. They have never caused her any discomfort or problem and have basically been there for as long as I can remember. I'm now beginning to wonder if these veins are the source of the problem and for some reason they are becoming fibrous in nature. Is this possible? Any ideas/suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 7:19 am:

Hello Linda,
Subcutaneous bumps in this region are often fibromas, which are non-malignant and more a chronic inflammatory type reaction than a cancer, and probably caused by girth irritation. The lump you are now feeling at the surgery site might be a scar from the removal or, if this was cancerous, indicitive of regrowth. I do not know any way to know for sure except you guessed it: removal again. If waiting seems prudent to your vet you would expect the scar to get smaller and if a cancer to continue to get bigger.

The only way to test for the vascular origin of these is to have one removed and examined.
DrO
Member:
Lindac

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003 - 6:51 am:

Ever since I discovered the 2nd bump, cancer has been in the back of my mind. You have given me some hope that this may not be the case. Fortunately the first area has not gotten any larger and I'm hoping as you said that this is nothing more than scar tissue and will get smaller over time. I have purchased a thick sheepskin girth cover to help in regards to the "girth irritation" problem. If these lumps are "fibromas" is there any treatment for them other than removal?

Thanks again.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2003 - 6:02 pm:

Look up the treatment in the bump article for nodular necrobiosis, if the cause is inflammatory that should help. If it is cancer it probably will not hurt and even some of those respond.
DrO
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