title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal-type melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal-type melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma with heavily pigmented dermal epithelioid and spindled melanocytes. Its classification as a subtype of melanoma versus a borderline melanocytic tumor is debated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our primary objective was to characterize the demographics, clinical presentation, histopathology, management, and outcomes of patients with animal-type melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the English-language literature on animal-type melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 190 cases of animal-type melanoma. They occurred equally in men and women, with Caucasians (53.7%) most commonly affected. The median Breslow depth was 3.8 mm; ulceration was reported present in 15.8%; and dermal mitoses greater than or equal to 1/mm(2) was reported in 27.4%. The most common initial management was wide local excision with sentinel lymph node biopsy (55.7%). In all, 78 patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy with 41.0% positivity rate. A total of 32 patients underwent completion lymph node dissection with 34.4% positivity rate. Locoregional recurrence was reported in 15 patients, recurrence with distant metastases in 6 patients, and death in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data were obtained from small studies with limited follow-up. There is no universally accepted definition of animal-type melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prospective studies with complete staging information and molecular profiling may allow further characterization of this tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jesse J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kord
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: Meg.Gerstenblith@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Meg R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gerstenblith
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: animal type melanoma; equine-type melanoma; melanoma with prominent pigment synthesis; pigment synthesizing melanoma; pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma