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| INDEX OF ARTICLES | WAITING ROOM | EXAM ROOM | SURGERY ROOM | X-RAY ROOM | GENERAL TOPICS | IMPORTANT TOPICS | LAB and PHARMACY | PET PHOTOS | PET SUPPLIES | PET PHARMACY |
| Melanoma Tumor In A Dog |
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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.
| Some dog breeds are more at risk for melanomas such as those below: | |||
| Airedales | Boston Terrier | Boxer | Chihuahua |
| Chow Chow | Cocker Spaniel | Doberman | Golden Retriever |
| Irish Setter | Miniature Schnauzer | Scottish Terrier | Springer Spaniel |
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.
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BENIGN MELANOMA OF
THE EYE IN A DOG |
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| Two views of a dark, raised mass of six month's duration at the corneoscleral junction in a Golden Retriever | |
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| 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.
| OTHER RELATED TOPICS OF INTEREST | ||||
| Surgery Room | Lumps and Bumps | Lipoma Removal | Fibrosarcoma In A Cat | Mammary Cancer Surgery In A Dog |
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