Corneal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising From a Conjunctival Graft Scar in a Horse.

Corneal SCC can develop from conjunctival graft scars; CO laser and mitomycin C are effective.

This case report documents a rare presentation of corneal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in an 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that developed at the site of a previous conjunctival pedicle graft scar 34 months post-surgery. The tumor presented as a raised, pigmented corneal mass measuring 25×20 mm with neovascularization extending from the ventral limbus. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of corneal SCC. Treatment consisted of two rounds of carbon dioxide laser photoablation performed 10 weeks apart in combination with topical mitomycin C chemotherapy, without surgical debulking. This multimodal approach successfully resolved the neoplastic lesion, with no recurrence documented over a 4-year follow-up period until the horse was euthanized for unrelated reasons. This represents the first reported case in equine medicine of SCC developing at the site of corneal scarring following conjunctival pedicle graft surgery, highlighting a previously undocumented complication of this surgical technique.

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