Page 600 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Reproductive system: 2.2 The male reproductive tr act 575

VetBooks.ir 2.172 Multiple palpable masses 2.173

9.2
Fig. 2.172 Ultrasound appearance of a testicle with
a seminoma in a 24-year-old stallion with onset of
infertility and poor semen quality over the previous
6 months.
Fig. 2.173 Ultrasound image of a hypoechoic,
firm mass (arrow) found in the left spermatic cord
(arrowhead) of a 20-year-old Hanoverian stallion that
Management presented for painful ejaculation.
Treatment is by unilateral castration. The spermatic
cord should be transected as far proximal as possible.
Ligation may be necessary to control haemorrhage. 2.174
In cryptorchid stallions, bilateral castration should
be performed.

Prognosis
Testicular tumours in stallions are usually benign.
Return to fertility may be compromised in stal-
lions with long-standing tumours due to old age,
hormonal downregulation or inflammation of the
normal testicle secondary to scrotal oedema or
unilateral castration.
Fig. 2.174 Gross appearance of the testis from
TUMOURS OF THE SPERMATIC CORD the stallion in 2.173 following unilateral castration.

The mass (arrow) was within the spermatic cord
Definition/overview (arrowhead), with adhesions to the tunic. The
Reports of spermatic cord tumours are extremely histological diagnosis was a leiomyoma.
rare in stallions. Fibroma, leiomyoma arising from
the wall of cord vessels and mesothelioma of the
tunica albuginea have been reported. Diagnosis
Palpation of the spermatic cord reveals a mass.
Clinical presentation Ultrasonographic evaluation may be suggestive of
The stallion may present with scrotal pain, reluc- neoplasia (Fig. 2.173). Diagnosis can be confirmed
tance to breed, generalised depression and ejacula- histologically by biopsy.
tory pain. In some cases no outward signs have been
noted. Management
Treatment involves unilateral castration with
Differential diagnosis removal of as much of the spermatic cord as possible
Thrombosis of spermatic cord vessels; varicocoele. on the affected side (Fig. 2.174).