Brunner's gland hyperplasia and recurrent gastric impaction in a horse

While Brunner's gland hyperplasia may rarely be considered as a cause of chronic gastric impaction in horses, it should be included in the differential diagnoses. A 7‐year‐old Cob cross‐breed gelding was presented with weight loss over a 3‐week period, and a diagnosis of chronic gastric impaction was made. Initial medical management was successful; however, the impaction recurred a further three times, at progressively shorter intervals, over the following 3 months. The owners subsequently elected euthanasia, and the horse was submitted for post‐mortem examination. A focal nodule within the cranial part of the duodenum was seen during the post‐mortem exam. Histopathologic evaluation of the duodenum revealed a marked increase in Brunner's glands admixed with distinct lobules of exocrine pancreatic tissue.