A Granulosa Theca Cell Tumour

[JanetGeorge]

I'm not going to apologise for a 'gory' pic in this post. This is the first time I've had available a picture of a Granulosa Theca Cell Tumour. I've never had a mare with them but I know I've suggesed to at least 6 people (a couple of them here??) that it sounded like one.

The behaviour: anything that is ill mannered, anything that suggests back pain behind the saddle but - most important - usually behaving like a stallion! That may be initially as little as a mare unexpectedly starting to nip humans and showing interest in others. It will - almost inevitably - reach a point where the mare is 'covering' other mares (or even geldings)

A potential GTCT is cheap to find and firm diagnosis shouldn't add much to the cost. All you need is a vet that does his share of scanning pregnant mares - not all do. A scan will show - at least "probably an ovarian cyst". I THINK it's a blood test as the next - the mare WILL have increased testosterone levels at a relatively early stage but I stand to be corrected on that.

I'd just emphasise that the chances that some of you will end up the chance to be the first person to 'diagnose' a GTCT in some poor mare who will end up suffering terribly if a GTCT isn't diagnosed quickly enough are high. PLEASE remember about GTCTs.

 

[Mooseontheloose]

I was once visiting a yard when a pony, screaming like a stallion, launched teeth first over the door at the owner. I asked if they were getting it gelded and she said it was a mare! I suggested that this was not normal behaviour! To cut a long story short a huge tumour was removed at Newmarket the following week, which would have been fatal had it gone on much longer.

 

[iconique]

We have a mare who was aggressive, nasty, used to attack other horses and had seperation issues, plus would do a nifty 360 buck spin duck when ridden. She changed completely after having a tumour and ovary removed, my vet still thinks I'm mad as she went for a camera up the nose due to a big nosebleed and I insisted that he scan the other end! Needless to say, best thing we did. You can't see the scar unless you knew where it is and she had a tumour the size of a very large grapefruit!
So as JG advises, if in doubt get it scanned, it's relatively cheap to diagnose, op is usually successful and at the end you might have a mare that isn't a bitch from hell!
Btw she's since had a foal with just one ovary.

 

[webble]

Wow I thought my mares ovaries were large when they were removed, that's a whopper!!

 

[catembi]

My mare behaved the same, same diagnosis, same sized tumour as in the picture. (Size of football; weighed 15lbs.)

Her behaviour changed so dramatically that she became 'too safe' & lost her fire jumping, so I sold her to someone who wanted a plodder. I bet she felt better for having had that thing removed though!

T x

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Thanks for posting this Janet.

 

[amy-lou]

My mare had a GCT tumor which was successfully removed. She became "stallion " like in her behavior. To confirm dignosis was through a scan and blood test for hormone levels, she had it removed via standing sedation and was back home after a few days. Her behavior dramatically changed but into a sweet well mannered mare. Cost was not much either.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Don't you love it when othe posters prove you right, lol! The GTCT is THE most common ovarian tumour - and the more we can spread this fact (and be alert for the possibilities of bad behaviour 'symptoms' of one) the more chance that we can avoid mares suffering!

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Yikes, I bet the mare that had that removed was grateful.

Thanks for posting, I like seeing things like this.

 

[Tobiano]

OMG how awful - poor horses with this! Glad to see the positive stories though. Although the image is graphic, it is a good way to keep this in mind in case of encountering it in the future.