title: Canine olfactory detection of malignant melanoma.
abstract: Our patient is a 75-year-old man who presented after his pet dog licked persistently at an asymptomatic lesion behind his right ear. Examination revealed a nodular lesion in the postauricular sulcus. Histology confirmed malignant melanoma, which was subsequently excised. Canine olfactory detection of human malignancy is a well-documented phenomenon. Advanced olfaction is hypothesised to explain canine detection of bladder, breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, prostate and skin cancers. Further research in this area may facilitate the development of a highly accurate aid to diagnosis for many malignancies, including melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Leon Frederick
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farmery
authors.forename: Susannah Mary Creighton
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Paul B J
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Farrant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012903:Smell