Diagnosis, surgical treatment and histological characterization of a laryngeal hemangioma in a standardbred horse

A rare case of tumour of the blood vessels was found in the larynx of a 3-year-old Standardbred horse, referred to the Clinica Equina Bagnarola because of exercise intolerance associated with inspiratory noise. To the best of our knowledge, the larynx has never been described as a location for this type of neoplasm, a benign tumour formed by a high number capillaries endowed in loose connective tissue. The referral veterinarian reported a clinical suspicion of laryngeal hemiplegia, but endoscopy ruled it out and showed the presence of a submucosal mass protruding axially in the laryngeal lumen. The horse underwent surgery with the removal of the mass and began its athletic activity again. By means of histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural techniques, a diagnosis of capillary hemangioma was performed, and to the best of our knowledge, this case is the first reported affecting the equine larynx.