Melanoma em cão: relato de caso

Abstract

Melanoma is a cutaneous neoplasm, which occurs most frequently in elderly dogs, accounting for about 4% to 7% of all tumors of the species, and 9% to 20% of cutaneous tumors. Its prognosis is, in most cases, unfavorable, due to the late diagnosis of neoplasia, when there is already infiltration and metastasis. Its etiology is still unknown, but is known to be a result of the mutation of melanin-producing cells, melanoblasts and melanocytes, which multiply in a disordered way in any region of the body, especially in oral cavity, lips, skin and digits. The diagnosis is based on the association of macroscopic and microscopic evaluation, and histological examination is of fundamental importance. The treatment of choice is the surgical treatment, but it can be associated with other therapeutic methods, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, among others. The present work seeks to perform a literature review about melanoma in dogs and to report a case of melanoma in dog digits.