Metastatic malignant melanoma in digit of the dog

Han, Kyu-bo; Cho, Ik-hyun; Kim, Hyun-su; Kim, Hwi-yool

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2001;41(2):227-231.

Kyu-bo Han¹, Ik-hyun Cho², Hyun-su Kim¹, Hwi-yool Kim²

¹Samsung Veterinary Hospital
²College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University

개의 발가락에 발생한 전이성 악성흑색종

한규보¹, 조익현², 김현수¹, 김휘율²

¹삼성종합동물병원
²건국대학교 수의과대학

Abstract

A 8-year-old, intact male Yorkshire Terrier Dog was presented with dark-black mass on the third digits of the left forelimb. Three months earlier, the dog had experienced an episode of digit amputation because of growing mass with ulcerated nodule of the same area. According to the owner, the recurrence of the mass appeared suddenly and was growing rapidly from the amputation site. The mass was more infiltrative than the first one and measured 1.5 cm in diameter. The clinical signs were anorexia, coughing, respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, cardiac murmurs, and cyanosis on the oral mucous membrane. Plain radiographic findings revealed multiple, various-sized(0.5 to 7 cm in diameter), slightly firm-nodules on the thoracic region but digital bone lysis was not seen. These lesions on the thoracic cavity were considered likely to be metastatic from the digit and the dog was naturally died after 3 weeks from the time. Histologically, the digital mass confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma that was composed of round melanocytic neoplastic, anaplastic, and melanin-containing cells. This report records clinical information and gross and light microscopic features of metastatic malignant melanoma in a dog.

Key Words: metastasis, malignant melanoma, digit, dog