Skin: melanoma

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Age predisposition, Breed predisposition, Pathogenesis, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Sequelae, Prognosis, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Laura Garrett DVM DACVIM (Oncology)
Mr David Scarff BVetMed CertSAD MRCVS
Synonyms Malignant melanoma

Introduction

  • Common in skin, digit and oral cavity, less common in iris and ciliary body of eye.
  • Diagnosis : cytology, histopathology.
  • Treatment : surgical resection +/- radiotherapy.
  • Prognosis : majority of skin melanomas are benign, as are iris and ciliary body melanomas.
  • Melanomas of digits and oral cavity are malignant.

Sequelae

Prognosis


Benign
  • Good but further benign tumors can appear.
Malignant
  • Secondary spread is common.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Local recurrence following inadequate surgical excision.
  • Secondary spread.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references from PubMed.
  • Rassnick K M, Ruslander D M, Cotter S M et al(2001) Use of carboplatin for treatment of dogs with malignant melanoma - 27 cases (1989-2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc 218 (9), 1444-1448.
  • Ramos-Vara J A, Beissenherz M E, Miller M A et al(2000) Retrospective study of 338 canine oral melanomas with clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical review of 129 cases. Vet Pathol 37 (6), 597-608.
  • MacEwen E G, Kurzman I D, Vail D M et al(1999) Adjuvant therapy for melanoma in dogs - results of randomized clinical trials using surgery, liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Clin Cancer Res 5 (12), 4249-4258.
  • Roels S, Tilmant K & Ducatelle R. (1999) PCNA and Ki67 proliferation markers as criteria for prediction of clinical behavior of melanocytic tumors in cats and dogs. J Comp Pathol 121 (1), 13-24.
  • Blackwood L & Dobson J M (1996) Radiotherapy of oral malignant melanomas in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 209 (1), 98-102.
  • Marino D J, Matthiesen D T, Stefanacci J D & Moroff S D (1995) Evaluation of dogs with digit masses - 117 cases (1981-1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc 207 (6), 726-728.
  • Bateman K E, Catton P A, Pennock P W & Kruth S A (1994) 0-7-21 radiation therapy for the treatment of canine oral melanoma. J Vet Intern Med 8 (4), 267-272.
  • MacEwen E G, Patnaik A K, Harvey H J, Hayes A A & Matus R (1986) Canine oral melanoma - comparison of surgery versus surgery plus Corynebacterium parvum. Cancer Invest 4 (5), 397-402.
  • Aronsohn M G & Carpenter J L (1990) Distal extremity melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas in dogs. JAAHA 26 , 605-612.

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