title: Canine balloon and signet-ring cell melanomas: a histological and immunohistochemical characterization.
abstract: Seven tumours that were composed of balloon (n=4) or signet-ring (n=3) cells were investigated for a putative melanocytic origin. The tumours were located in the skin or the mouth cavity. In one case a sample from inguinal lymph node metastasis was available. Two antibodies used in man for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of melanomas, namely anti-Melan-A and anti-tyrosinase, were examined for their cross-reactivity with the corresponding canine antigens. The Melan-A antibody labelled all balloon cell tumours and one signet-ring cell tumour, whereas the anti-tyrosinase antibody was not reactive in any of the tumours. The Melan-A antibody also labelled a variety of canine epithelioid and spindle cell melanomas; non-melanocytic tumours were all negative. This study confirmed the occurrence of balloon and signet-ring cell melanomas in dogs. Melan-A antibody was found to be useful in the diagnosis of pigmented and non-pigmented canine melanomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Cangul
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Garderen
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: van der Linde-Sipman
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: van den Ingh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schalken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058965:MART-1 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase