A Case Report of an Eyelid Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma in Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
Keywords:
Amelanotic malignant melanoma, Cancer, Eyelid, FerretAbstract
Amelanotic malignant melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that can occur in any part of the body, presenting in various forms and associated with a poor prognosis. Due to the absence of the pigment melanin, clinical diagnosis is challenging, often leading to delays in treatment. The primary treatment is early surgical intervention, which can be combined with radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and chemotherapy if necessary. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of an eyelid amelanotic malignant melanoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo). A 5-year-old male ferret was presented with a small, irregular, protruding pinkish firm mass located in the medial of the left lower eyelid, extending to the palpebral conjunctiva of the left eye. The mass did not respond to medical treatment. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs revealed no abnormalities. Hematology and serum biochemistry results were within normal limits. The left eyelid mass was surgically removed using the H-plasty technique for biopsy. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry labeling with Melan-A confirmed a diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma. A recurrent mass was observed 14 weeks after the initial surgery. Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) revealed that the left eyelid mass had extended into the left retrobulbar region, causing left ocular compression and exophthalmos. A second surgical excision and enucleation were performed. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma. Approximately 5 weeks after the second surgery, the tumor recurred and invaded the oral cavity, with bone lysis at the zygomatic arch and maxilla. The ferret was found dead at home approximately 8 months after the diagnosis. Amelanotic malignant melanoma appears to be a highly aggressive type of tumor in ferrets, and surgical removal alone is not effective in preventing metastasis or prolonging survival. Although uncommon, amelanotic malignant melanoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eyelid neoplasms in ferrets.
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