title: Excision of a feline limbal melanoma and use of nictitans cartilage to repair the resulting corneoscleral defect.
abstract: A limbal melanoma was surgically removed from a 12-year-old castrated male black domestic shorthair (DSH) cat. The resulting full-thickness eye wall defect was repaired using the autologous third eyelid cartilage. The patient was followed for 85 days postoperatively, during which time there was no recurrence. Other than a small amount of fibrin and blood at the anterior lens capsule, no significant complications were seen. Use of the third eyelid cartilage as graft material following resection of a feline limbal melanoma can be effective for repairing large eye wall defects and preserving ocular function. The third eyelid proved to be a convenient source of graft material. In addition, autologous grafting can reduce the potential for iatrogenic spread of infectious agents such as feline herpes virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 229-8511, Japan. kanai@db3.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanemaki
authors.forename: Shirou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Youichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okujima
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D009541:Nictitating Membrane / Q000637:transplantation*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000662:veterinary