Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Non-eye melanoma in cats - study of 23 cases and outcomes
By Luna, L D et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2000·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline non-ocular melanoma: a retrospective study of 23 cases (1991-1999).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with a skin growth on its nose, digit, or ear may have a type of skin cancer called melanoma, which is rare but has been reported in over 150 cases. In a study of 23 cats with non-ocular melanoma, it was found that those with digital melanomas had similar survival rates to dogs with the same condition. The study emphasized that a biopsy is crucial for an accurate diagnosis since other tumors can look similar. Regular check-ups are important for all cats with these types of growths, whether benign or malignant, to monitor their health.
Abstract
Non-ocular melanoma is considered to be a rare neoplasm in cats; however, more than 150 cases have been reported in the literature since 1961. The objective of this study was to characterise this tumour better by evaluating case outcome and survival data for cats with melanoma and to compare clinical and histopathological findings with those of previous reports. Twenty-three feline non-ocular melanomas were identified, the most common locations being the nose, digit and pinna. Cats with digital melanomas had survival rates similar to their canine counterparts. Histological assignation of benignity, malignancy or junctional activity was not found to be an accurate predictor of clinical behaviour. Melanoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for cats presenting with pigmented or non-pigmented masses and histopathology is essential for definitive diagnosis, as other tumours may clinically appear quite similar. Regular follow-up examinations are recommended indefinitely for benign or malignant feline melanomas.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11716616/