title: Carbon dioxide laser photoablation adjunctive therapy following superficial lamellar keratectomy and bulbar conjunctivectomy for the treatment of corneolimbal squamous cell carcinoma in horses: a review of 24 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the complications and nonrecurrence rates following superficial lamellar keratectomy, bulbar conjunctivectomy, and adjunctive carbon dioxide (CO(2)) photoablation for corneolimbal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the horse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study. Sample population  Twenty-four horses with corneolimbal SCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of horses diagnosed with corneolimbal SCC that was surgically excised and where CO(2) photoablation was used as an adjunctive therapy from 2000 to 2007 were reviewed. Signalment, prior therapy, tumor location and size, complications, and recurrence of SCC were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Thoroughbred was the most commonly (25%) represented breed. Lesions were >10 mm in diameter in 70.8% of cases. Eight horses (33.3%) had neoplastic cells extending to the deep margin of the keratectomy. All horses were available for follow-up for an average ± standard deviation of 40.7 ± 25 months. Four horses (16.7%) developed a recurrence of SCC. Three of these four horses underwent repeat keratectomy and CO(2) photoablation, one each, at 4 months, 1, and 2 years following the initial procedure. One horse underwent enucleation 8 months following the initial procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an adjunctive therapy, CO(2) photoablation was successful in 87.5% of the horses following a single procedure and in a total of 91.7% following a second therapeutic application. CO(2) photoablation appears to be effective as an adjunctive therapy following removal of large corneolimbal SCC in the horse and in cases in which all tumor cells were not excised.
authors.affiliation: Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, 3000 Busch Lake Blvd, Tampa, FL 33624, USA. tmmichau@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tammy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Michau
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gilger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D048988:Corneal Surgery, Laser / Q000662:veterinary*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies