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Case Reports
. 2023 Feb 15:2023:2429241.
doi: 10.1155/2023/2429241. eCollection 2023.

Limbal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Black Baldy Cow: Case Report and Surgical Treatment

Alexandra T J Ng  1 , Richard J McMullen Jr  1 , Gillian C Shaw  2 , Thomas Passler  1 , Jenna Stockler  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Limbal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Black Baldy Cow: Case Report and Surgical Treatment

Alexandra T J Ng et al. Case Rep Vet Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To document a case of limbal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in an adult Black Baldy cow treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunctive therapy following surgical excision. Animals Studied. One privately owned 8-year-old female, entire, Black Baldy cow. Procedures. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed on an adult Black Baldy cow for assessment of a mass affecting the left eye. Following a routine partial incision superficial lamellar keratectomy and conjunctivectomy under local analgesia using a Peterson retrobulbar block, photodynamic therapy was performed as an adjunctive treatment to lower the chance for recurrence and improve the prognosis for the globe.

Results: Histopathologic analysis of the limbal mass was reported to be consistent with a squamous cell carcinoma, removed with clean margins. The patient was comfortable and visual with no signs of tumor recurrence 11 months after surgery.

Conclusion: Superficial lamellar keratectomy and conjunctivectomy with adjunctive photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for limbal squamous cell carcinoma and may be performed as an alternative to enucleation, exenteration, euthanasia, or slaughtering in cattle.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Color (a) and infrared (b) imaging of the limbal mass on initial examination of the left eye.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A partial incision superficial lamellar keratectomy (PI-SLK) and conjunctivectomy; removal of the corneoconjunctival section (a–d), “painting” of infracyanine green onto the keratectomy site and injection into the perilimbal conjunctiva (e), and infrared imaging showing no gross evidence of infiltrate (f).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lateral limbal lesion from a cow. Photomicrograph of the specimen showing the plaque-like exophytic neoplasm that replaced that conjunctival and corneal epithelium. The cells formed sheets and anastomosing lobules, which multifocally invade below the basement membrane (arrow). The superficial surface of the mass was composed of dense keratin (bracket). Inflammatory cells heavily infiltrated the underlying stroma. The margins were clear of neoplastic cells. Hematoxylin and eosin.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Color (a) and infrared (b) imaging of the left eye 1 week after surgery. Granulation of the keratectomy site is noted with no evidence of tumor regrowth.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Color (a) and infrared (b) imaging of the left eye 11 months after surgery. Faint fibrosis is noted along the temporal limbus with no evidence of tumor regrowth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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