Prevalence and radiographic features of cyst-like lesions in German Warmblood horses presented for pre-purchase examination.

Authors

Elisabeth M Wendling, Maren Hellige, Fritjof Freise, Philipp Lingens, Stefan Tietje, Uta Delling

Published in

Frontiers in veterinary science. Volume 13. Pages 1809383. Epub Jul 06, 2026.

Abstract

Cyst-like lesions (CLLs) are frequently detected during radiographic examinations of equine limbs. They may represent a potential risk factor during pre-purchase examination (PPE) and are of considerable clinical and economic importance, as they may lead to negative purchase decisions. While affected horses may develop lameness, incidental findings have also been reported. The goal of the study was to describe the prevalence, location and radiographic characteristics of CLLs in a group of sound German Warmblood horses.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 3863 German Warmbloods presented sound for pre-purchase examination at a German equine hospital over a five-year period. Radiographs were analyzed for CLL presence, and the age, gender, and breeding area (studbook) of horses affected by CLLs were documented. The CLLs were then independently evaluated by two observers using a novel comprehensive scoring system.
A total of 176 CLLs were detected in 164 horses revealing a CLL prevalence of 4.25%. The median age of the horses was 3.5 years, 67.68% of horses were male, and horses were mainly from Northwest Germany's studbooks. The most common location for CLLs was the proximal phalanx (32.96%) followed by the medial/lateral femoral condyles (16.48%). Hindlimbs were affected more frequently (64.77%). There was relatively high inter-observer agreement on the scoring system parameters, ranging from almost perfect (κ > 0.9) to moderate (κ = 0.5). Concomitant osteoarthritic changes of the affected joints were significantly associated with abaxial location of the CLL.
The overall prevalence of CLLs aligns with previous literature. Median age and higher proportion of males may reflect a selection bias for stallions undergoing licensing. The new scoring system showed excellent inter-observer agreement for objective parameters, subjective parameters yielded lower agreement. The retrospective design introduces potential underdiagnosis. The lack of caudocranial stifle projections in some PPE likely led to false negatives for medial femoral condyle lesions.

PMID:
42519723
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Jul 2026.

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