Efficacy of lamellar resection, cryotherapy, and adjunctive grafting for the treatment of canine limbal melanoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and complication rate of partial lamellar resection followed by cryotherapy for the management of canine limbal melanoma. Animals studied Fourteen dogs with unilateral canine limbal melanoma which were managed surgically by partial lamellar resection, cryotherapy (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) and an adjunctive graft procedure. Methods The clinical records of dogs treated between June 1998 and June 2008 were reviewed. The signalment, approximate size and location of the melanoma, variation in surgical technique, recurrence rate, short-term (< three months) and long-term (> three months) complications were assessed. Follow-up information was collected by patient re-examination or telephone interview. Results The mean age at diagnosis was 6.3 years, with a range from 3.2 to 12 years. Seven breeds were affected, including five cross-breed dogs and four Golden Retrievers. The tumour involved the dorsal arc (from the dorsomedial to the ventrolateral quadrant) in 12 eyes and the ventral arc in two eyes.

Ocular Tumors

“…31 Beta-irradiation and cryosurgery have been used as adjuncts to surgery. Given its benign nature and usually slow growth rate (imperceptible growth over 18 months has been described), observation alone may be appropriate in older dogs.…”

“…If intervention is required, lamellar keratectomy/sclerectomy with graft placement is often curative. 31,32 Enucleation is curative and indicated if painful intraocular disease is present. 31,32 Cryosurgery alone or laser photocoagulation 30 has also been described as effective means of treatment.…”

Melanocytic Ophthalmic Neoplasms of the Domestic Veterinary Species: A Review

“…In human malignant epibulbar melanoma, treatment with 25 Gy doses repeated over 4-6 weeks had a 75% success rate. (55) Reducing the total radiation dose or delivering a dose in a greater number of fractions may reduce the long term side effects, but further research are needed to study their efficacy.The usage of cryotherapy has been explored as melanocytes are cryosensitive due to their high water content (56). In a study of 14 dogs with limbal melanocytic tumors, partial lamellar resection was utilized, followed by fluorocarbon freon gas (1,1,1,2-tetrafluorethane) application, and either an advancement graft, nictitans conjunctival graft, small intestinal submucosal graft, or frozen corneoscleral graft.…”

Modified penetrating keratoplasty with Acell® bioscaffold implant in seven horses with deep full‐thickness corneal stromal abscess

“…Reports in the literature describe the use of alternative grafting materials, particularly commercially sourced porcine small intestinal (SIS) or bladder submucosa extracellular matrix grafts for restoring tectonic support to full-thickness corneal or corneoscleral defects in small animals. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Extracellular matrix xenografts are composed of structural and functional proteins, glycoproteins and proteoglycans, forming a scaffold for tissue morphogenesis, maintenance, and wound remodeling and have been used in various tissue engineering and surgical applications. 23 Additional benefits of extracellular matrix include a low antigenic potential, support of angiogenesis, cell migration and proliferation, 24,25 inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, 26 and resistance to bacterial infection.…”