Evaluation of excision, cryosurgery and local BCG vaccination for the treatment of equine sarcoids.

Ninety-five horses with sarcoids were subjected to three types of treatment: surgical excision (conventional or carbon dioxide laser), cryotherapy or local BCG vaccination. The type of treatment was selected on the basis of the size, location and clinical appearance of the tumours. The choice between conventional and laser excision was empirical. A successful outcome was obtained in 11 of 14 (79 per cent) of the horses treated by cryosurgery, 18 of 27 (67 per cent) treated by BCG vaccination, 18 of 22 (82 per cent) treated by conventional excision, and 20 of 28 (71 per cent) treated with a carbon dioxide laser. For both excision methods, rigorous measures were taken to avoid autoinoculation and to ensure a wide margin of normal skin. The probability of local recurrence after excision was significantly higher for large sarcoids and sarcoids which had previously failed to respond to treatment. In 10 of the 31 horses with remaining sarcoids, some or all of the untreated sarcoids were observed to regress spontaneously.