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Discussion on Thyroid Tumor

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kerry
Member
Username: Parfait

Post Number: 134
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006 - 5:09 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Dr O,

My 23 yo mare has had a tumor on the right side of her thyroid for a year. At the time I had it biopsied, we decided to let it sit as it was still small & didn't appear to be growing. It now has recently nearly doubled in size to 3 1/2 inches--she holds her head outstretched. I think I remember the surgeon saying it was a cystic adenoma (?).

I've read that a complication can be ipsilateral laryngeal hemiplegia (is that one-sided paralysis?) My Doc said the area was vascuous and had a concentration of nerves. Are there more things I should be concerned about?

The mare is PCS, blew a hole in her right front DDF about 4 months ago that seems to be healing well. She is blind in her left eye from a catarac. I know, she sounds bad but she's quite wild most days. That's how she got the tendon problem.
So:
How risky, in your view is the surgery, and what should I do/know before hand?

Is she just too broken down for surgery-- Should I wait? Is there an alternative?

Thanks a heep!
Kerry
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 14613
Registered: 1-1997
Posted on Thursday, Jan 26, 2006 - 7:25 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

The risk will mainly depend on the health status of your mare and her ability to withstand anesthesia something I really cannot judge from here. There are not a lot of reports on this surgery but of those available LH was the only problem noted and happened in almost 1/2 the cases. Increase care in isolating the nerve during surgery may help. In the following 16 months none of the tumors recurred.
DrO
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