title: Unusual presentation of a metastatic uveal melanoma in a cat.
abstract: A 10 year-old, spayed female Domestic Short-Haired (DSH) cat was diagnosed with a large primary uveal melanoma and exenteration was recommended. Thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasonography, and complete blood count and serum biochemistry panel did not reveal any abnormality compatible with metastatic disease and surgery was performed. Histopathologic study of the eye confirmed a diffuse iris melanoma. Five months later, the cat presented with a lameness of the right anterior extremity. On physical exam the right elbow was swollen and painful. Radiographs showed a severe osteolysis of the radial head and proximal diaphysis. Fine needle aspiration of the radius head identified a round cell neoplasm with scattered cells containing intracytoplasmatic pigmented granules, compatible with metastatic melanoma. The owners decided not to treat the patient with chemotherapy and declined a biopsy. Two months later, the cat died and necropsy was performed confirming bone metastasis of the uveal melanoma. A diagnosis of generalized metastasis from primary diffuse iris melanoma was made. This report describes, for the first time, long bone metastasis from an uveal melanoma in a cat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Planellas
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Ma Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leiva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*