Malignant granulosa-theca cell tumor in a two-year-old Miniature Horse

Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation/Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, G300 Veterinary Medical Center, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

A 2-year-old female Miniature Horse that presented with a history of progressive weight loss, depression, and diarrhea was diagnosed at necropsy with a highly malignant abdominal neoplasm involving the left ovary, kidneys, adrenal glands, intestines, and various abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes. Microscopic examination of these masses revealed large pleomorphic cells that stained positive for vimentin and inhibin and negative for epithelial membrane antigen and placental alkaline phosphatase. Ultrastructural examination of the cells revealed a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and indented euchromatic nuclei with large nucleoli. Based on the gross, microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features, the neoplasm was identified as a malignant granulosa-theca cell tumor, a rare neoplasm in young horses.