Answer: Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinomas are locally aggressive, malignant tumors that are common in non pigmented skin areas of horses. These tumors rarely metastasize to other organs however as stated earlier they are locally aggressive. Other common sites were they may be found is at the margins of the mouth and the third eyelid. They may sometimes involve the entire eye it’s self. Surgical intervention is necessary to prevent their spread. In this case the tumors were frozen with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery) twice 3 weeks apart. The two smaller tumors responded well to the cryosurgery however the bigger one did not regress and so it was surgically removed. Complete excision of theses tumors is usually curative however new tumors may arise at other locations. They can be frozen and cured if caught early enough.

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