Neoplasia, Gastric
Basic Information 
Clinical Presentation
History, Chief Complaint
Typical signs associated with gastric squamous cell carcinoma include:
• Ascites or edema may occur in some cases. If the esophagus is involved, dysphagia or ptyalism will be the predominant sign. Gastric squamous cell carcinoma involving the cardia may also result in dysphagia. Involvement at other sites in the stomach may result in signs of obstruction to outflow (colic) or weight loss.
• In some cases, tachypnea is a prominent sign, either because of metastasis to the thoracic cavity or pressure on the diaphragm from the tumor.
• Recurrent colic, especially colic associated with feeding, may occur.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
• Squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly reported neoplasm affecting the stomach.
• The rate of growth and aggressiveness of gastric squamous cell carcinoma in horses is variable. In some horses, the tumor remains localized within the stomach, but in others, the tumors may extend through the stomach wall and spread to other abdominal viscera or metastasize to other locations in the body.
• Leiomyosarcoma (gastrointestinal stromal tumors), adenocarcinoma, and lymphoma have also been reported in the equine stomach in many cases in association with neoplasia elsewhere in the body.
• Amyloid deposition in the stomach wall has been recorded secondary to myeloma (in association with amyloid deposition in other organs).
• Gastric hyperplastic polyp has been recorded in one horse.
Diagnosis 
Differential Diagnosis
• Other causes of dysphagia (especially abnormalities of the pharyngeal and esophageal phases of deglutition), including pharyngeal paralysis, pharyngeal cysts, pharyngeal compression by strangles abscesses and guttural pouch empyema, subepiglottic cyst, fourth branchial arch defect, esophageal obstruction, megaesophagus, esophageal stricture, intramural esophageal cysts, esophageal rupture, and equine grass sickness.
• Other causes of chronic weight loss.
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