Melanoma tumors in dogs, more than most cancers, demand immediate attention. As a group, melanomas can be either benign or malignant. Early recognition of melanomas can lead to more successful attempts at removal and identification of the grade or stage of cancer. The risk of metastasis for benign forms of melanoma is not very high but these can be locally invasive. Malignant melanomas can metastasize (spread) to any area of the body especially the lymph nodes and lungs and present very challenging and dangerous prospects for the dog. Cats seem much less susceptible to melanoma tumors than dogs.

BENIGN MELANOMAS...

Benign cutaneous melanomas of dogs are usually seen as round, firm, raised, darkly pigmented masses from one-quarter to 2 inches in diameter. They occur most often on the head, digits or back.

MALIGNANT MELANOMAS...

In the dog, presence of malignant melanoma may be first discovered in the lungs where diffuse pulmonary infiltration of tumors will be displayed throughout the lung tissue on a radiograph (x-ray). Lymph node swelling or enlargement may be a clinical sign of malignant spread of a melanoma. Some melanomas do not display the characteristic darkly pigmented color of most melanomas. The pigment called melanin is a hallmark of these tumors and usually is present in large amounts in melanomas.

DIAGNOSIS...

A definitive diagnosis is made via microscopic analysis (histopathology evaluation by a Specialist in Veterinary Pathology) of a small section of the growth. This is called a "biopsy" of the tumor. The examining pathologist usually will grade the specimen according to how actively the cells are replicating. This gives an approximation of how likely the growth is to invade and spread. If an entire growth is removed, the pathologist can report on the tissue's grade as well as any evidence that parts of the tumor may not have been thoroughly excised by the surgeon.

TREATMENT...

Treatment of melanomas is best provided by surgical excision of the tumor and nearby surrounding tissue. Localized tumors may be completely removed and the patient cured. However, if a malignant melanoma has had the opportunity to spread to distant areas of the body, long term survival of the dog is not likely. Chemotherapy has been performed with marginal success; complete remissions of metastatic melanoma cases are rare. Fortunately most cutaneous (skin) melanomas are benign, but individual growths need to be evaluated as unique and unpredictable since any given melanoma may become malignant.

Case Presentation:

A Golden Retriever was presented for routine vaccinations. The attending veterinarian, as part of the pre-vaccination physical exam, noticed an abnormal, darkly pigmented, raised tissue mass at the lateral edge or the dog's right corneal-scleral junction. The suspicious mass was creating a slight deviation in the smooth surface of the cornea and seemed to be invading both the sclera (white area of the eye ball) and the cornea. Because the veterinarian suspected the mass was a melanoma, referral to a specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology was done. Dr. Sam Vainisi of the Animal Eye Clinic in Denmark, Wisconsin, evaluated the four-year-old Golden Retriever and suggested that surgery be done. Using a CO2 laser the growth was excised. Because of the depth and diameter of the growth, as well as the unusual location, Dr. Vainisi performed a frozen tissue, cornel-scleral graft with healthy tissue from the clinic's eye bank to fill in the defect. The tissue graft was carefully sutured into the surgical site. Topical and oral antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory medication were used after the surgery and healing of the surgical site was uneventful. The photos below display the melanoma prior to the surgery and six months after. Annie, the patient, is healthy and active and is expected to have no visual impairment as a consequence of the tumor. Thanks to the specialist's careful evaluation and surgical excision of this melanoma, Annie is expected to have no further problems with the eye.

BENIGN MELANOMA OF THE EYE IN A DOG (click on an image to see close-up view)
Two views of a dark, raised mass of six month's duration at the corneoscleral junction in a Golden Retriever
Two views of the healed surgical site, six months after surgical excision and with tissue transposition

If you discover a darkly pigmented, raised, thickened growth anywhere on your dog, be sure to have your veterinarian evaluate it. Keep in mind that pigmented (black) areas of the skin are common in dogs and cats, especially in the tongue, gum and eyelid tissues... and these darkened areas may be completely normal for that individual. However, if any darkly pigmented areas are actually raised above the normal surface or seem thickened or ulcerated or inflamed, an exam is indicated.