Sarcoid near eye ..experiences, treatments, iridium wire? Help!

[warmbloodcrazy]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if I could pick your brains and draw from your experiences, i'm sorry if this post ends up being long, i'm just being a worried owner:

Basically, my 17 year old warmblood had a small bump appear near the corner of his eye near the tear duct about 10 weeks ago. Originally I thought it was a bite or something but over the weeks that followed it got larger so Saturday my vet came in to look. He confirmed that it was a sarcoid, my horse has never had sarcoids before (I've had him since he was 6) nor as he got any others (vet checked round his sheath etc to make sure) so I was gutted as I had been hoping that it was a little abscess or something. My vet said at the moment its about the size of half a pea but there is a bit of swelling around the area that makes it look bigger.

He has mentioned that the Iridium Wire treatment is the best option but is between £5000-£6000. My horse is insured so I am hoping the insurance company will agree and pay out but wondered if they may not wish to and argue it due to his age (i'm covered for £5000). Although looking up the treatment it doesn't seem too nice but if its 10 days or so of that then him having untold issues it has to be worth it. I expect he will be referred to Newmarket as i'm not aware that Liphook does his treatment?

The next option is the BCG injections into it but my vet said there are lots of different outcomes of using it for example.. it may not work.. may irritate it further...scarring issues... also the possibility that as theres swelling around it it may be hard to inject it exactly where its needed. So I am a little worried to say the least

Please could you share your experiences on the treatments and how old your horse was etc etc.. just looking for a bitof reassurance really

Thank you all!

 

[fidgeuk]

My lad was treated for a sarcoid under his left eyelid, which was treated with injections of a drug called Mita mycin (chemotherapy drug used to treat bladder cancer in humans) several injections administered by the vet. I didn't have insurance so couldn't afford the rod treatment, the Mita mycin was prescribed by Liverpool university and worked. The sarcoid got messy and went but the hair grew back white around his eye.
There are pictures on the vet link on here somewhere from 2011
Good luck, hope the above helps

 

[Britestar]

One of mine had bcg vaccines as an 8 year old. She had 3 perioccular nodular sarcoids above one eye. She had 7 treatments which were completely successful. They never came back.
She is 18 now.

 

[Jnhuk]

We were set to go down the route of BCG injections under Prof K at Liverpool. He requested an intralesional biopsy to confirm sarcoid before we began which it did but the lesion completely disappeared after it so we are just now waiting to see what happens.

Have photos of before and after if you interested.

 

[Renvers]

Have had success with laser surgery by Jeremy Kemp-Symonds to remove a Sarcoid located above the eye and that had a root down to the socket muscle. Was initially worried about the location and any treatment but all okay so far.

Had previously been treated unsuccessfully with Liverpool cream, i would not recommend using it that near to the eye.

Horse is 4

 

[Hand that feeds]

My mare had sarcoid below her eye ( tear duct area ) initially tied off with suture thread, nothing much happened for a month, then had elastic band clamped on ( by vet ) came off next day, soon followed by sarcoid. Risk - minimal , cost - very little. Successful - yes

 

[Triskar]

I have had success with small sarcoids (complete disappearance, and hair regrowth after an occult sarcoid) by using acyclovir cream (zovirax) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21493530

 

[Lucyad]

My horse had a large nodular sarcoid and a flat verucoid sarcoid both just above his eye. My vet did not recommend Liverpool treatment due to the location, but when the nodular one grew, suggested sarc-off bloodroot paste, which she sold me a pot of (about £100). it worked very well, though it was mess when the nodular sarcoid opened up. I had to reapply a year later when it grew back. I have had him for 8 years now with no reoccurrence, and only a tiny un-noticeable scarring.

 

[Pascal96]

My mare had a sarcoid under her left eye which was treated by BCG injections. This cleared it completely and it has healed well. It is not at all noticeable where the sarcoid was. This was earlier this year and at the moment there is no sign that the sarcoid is going to return. My vet has used this treatment several times and has found it very successful.

 

[warmbloodcrazy]

Thank you so much all of you for taking the time let m know your experiences, I think my vet is suggesting the BCG route at the moment just hope he doesn't have any adverse reactions and it works well, i'm gutted! Did you all claim on your insurances for those of you that had BCG injections, I've heard its costly

 

[PorkChop]

I had a horse that had a sarcoid above his eye - it was successfully frozen in one treatment and never returned. There was just white hair where it had been. However this was probably ten years ago and I expect treatments have come on a fair bit.

 

[Britestar]

The cost of treatment was high, not to mention the cost of transporting her to the vet hospital each time, and the the physical time involved.
Sadly mine was not insured. However, worth every penny imo.

 

[warmbloodcrazy]

That's what I thought, my horse is insured so I will be making a claim for his eye so I can do the best I can to get it gone, they are awful things.. the more I google the more im worrying!! Thanks so much for your experiences, I just hope the treatment goes to plan and it isn't too horrendous for him my poor boy! Pictures have been sent off for a referral by the vet so I am just waiting to hear back on the plan of action!

 

[leflynn]

My boy had the iridium wire treatment for a largeish sarcoid above his eye, insurance payed out and *touch wood* it hasn't returned since. It was done by Leahurst at Liverpool almost 3 yrs ago and about 6 months afterwards another flat sarcoid under his chin also 'vanished'. I think the cost was just below £5k. He has no issues with his eye being touched and you wouldn't know except for the white hair around his eye

 

[monstermunch]

My mare had exactly the same sarcoid in the same area as you are describing. She was 5 years old. She was not insured but having had another mare with sarcoids I didn't want to mess around with it. I opted for BCG. She had 5 lots of injections (5 different days), and was treated at home because she was a bad traveller and very stressed so it was the best option to remain at home. I paid about £900 for the course. It is normal for the whole eye to look revolting wit treatment. It generally blows up so they can't see for a while. Her treatment was very successful and the sarcoid died. I sold her a few months later. That was 1 year ago and she is still sarcoid free. Don't mess around with the eye area. its not worth it. Just get it sorted.

 

[Jnhuk]

I was told depending on how many courses of BCG injections would be approx £800 but our vet (equine specialist) was happy to do at home but they did say that they have to remain on site fro some time after incase of anaphylactic reactions.

The iridium wire is a lot more and I think there are only a few places that do it.

My horse has an exclusion on skin disorders so couldn't claim on insurance.

 

[pearlygirl]

My mare had one come up in the same place on her left eye. She has a lot of sarcoids of different types and over the years we have had all sorts of treatment, some successful and some not so much.

After discussion with my vet we decided to not to anything as it wasn't causing her pain or interfering with her vision. We monitored it and left it well alone. It grew to the size of a broad bean and then about 2 months ago after being there for nearly 2 years it finally out grew its blood supply and popped through the skin, came off and has healed well.

If it isn't causing issues or pain does it need removing? It might not look pretty but I've found over the years sometimes it's better to leave them be. My main reason was the eye area is so delicate and I'd hate to cause more problems than just a lump.

Just to add she is 15 now and I've been dealing with her sarcoids for nearly 10 years.

 

[warmbloodcrazy]

Thank you so much for all your experiences. The bump that appeared started to go down before Christmas and has now almost completely gone.. I'm wondering whether it was a sarcoid at all and when i showed the vet how much it had gone down he seemed unsure too! Told me to keep an eye on it. It came up and went within 6 months. Very relieved!! He had never had a sarcoid before and i was so worried about all the treatment he'd have had to have etc.

 

[leflynn]

Good news! I hope it wasn't one and its gone for good!

 

[Aru]

Is it growing and changing or causing him any serious issues? Id be reluctant to jump in with invasive unless there is a serious issue with tack or vision or if its frowing rapidly and likely to cause issues if it doesnt stop. Sarcoids are unpredictable but sometimes sarcoids do regress when left alone....so if its not changing dramatically or causing issues would monitoring not be an option?

Edited as read the last 2 replies!that will teach me to skim read. Hope all goes well and it was a one off OP sometimes they are better left and monitored for a while....sarcoids are notoriously unpredictable