<sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0001"> <title content-type="main">Aims To evaluate laser surgery as a sole treatment for sarcoid resection; and determine risk factors for recurrence. <sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0002"> <title content-type="main">Methods Horses included had diode laser surgery to remove 1 sarcoid. No previous/concurrent veterinary treatment was administered. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology in all cases. Clinical data were retrieved from the hospital database. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone questionnaire. <sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0003"> <title content-type="main">Results Follow-up data are currently available for 290 sarcoids, in 73 horses, over 177 horse-years. Overall recurrence rate was 1.31 sarcoids per 10 horse-years (95% CI 0.80-2.02). For horses with 1-5 sarcoids, recurrence rate was 0.95 sarcoids per 10 horse-years (95% CI 0.52-1.62). For each additional sarcoid removed, that horse was 1.24 (odds ratio) as likely to have at least one sarcoid recur (95% CI 1.03-1.50; P<0.001). Initial univariable analyses on this preliminary dataset revealed no risk associated with age, breed, sarcoid location (grouped as lower limb; upper limb/ventral abdomen; body; head and neck), sarcoid size or month of removal (all P>0.05). Horses with mixed-type sarcoids were more likely to have recurrence than horses with sarcoids of other types (P=0.007). Time-to-recurrence (mean 7.6 months, 99% CI 3.2-11.9) was significantly shorter than follow-up time for horses without recurrence (mean 30.0 months, 99% CI 19.8-32.1; P<0.001). <sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0004"> <title content-type="main">Conclusions If a horse has 5 or less sarcoids removed by laser surgery alone, recurrence will occur in <1 horse every 10 horse-years. Risk factors for recurrence include number of sarcoids and mixed-type sarcoid. Recurrence is most likely within 12 months of original surgery. Full time-to-event regression analysis is intended. <sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0005"> <title content-type="main">Practical significance These preliminary findings indicate laser removal of sarcoids as a sole treatment method carries a high success rate. These results provide evidence-based support for decision making in equine practice, where sarcoids are the most commonly encountered skin tumour. <sec id="evj12145_3-sec-0006"> <title content-type="main">Ethical animal research Not required by this Congress: retrospective clinical study. Sources of funding: Polly Compston is supported by the Margaret Giffen Trust. Competing interests: None.
