canine melanomas: unveiling the etiology, diagnosis, and current therapeutic strategies of ocular tumors

Veterinary ophthalmologic diseases include a variety of conditions that affect the eye, its surrounding structures, and the area around the eye. melanoma is a type of cancer that develops from melanocytes and can occur in animals, particularly in dogs. these melanocytic neoplasms in dogs can affect different parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea, sclera, and orbit. in dogs, the most common primary intraocular tumor is uveal melanoma. additionally, while anterior uveal melanocytic tumors are frequently encountered in canines, posterior uveal melanocytic tumors are infrequently observed, and when found, they are typically benign. orbital melanoma is uncommon in dogs, but when it does occur, it tends to be aggressive and has a poor outlook. the exact cause of ocular melanoma is not fully understood, but factors such as genetics, pigmented region lesions, exposure to uv radiation, and potential viral infection may be related. a definitive diagnosis of ocular tumors is usually made through histology. melanocytic neoplasms typically occur in adult to elderly animals, although there are cases in younger animals. there is no confirmed gender or breed predisposition. clinical signs of ocular neoplasms include visual loss, corneal opacity, endophthalmitis, uveitis, retinal detachment, the presence of invasive growths, changes in pigmentation, and secondary glaucoma. treatment and prognosis options vary depending on the species affected, the location and size of the tumor, and its histological features. surgical removal, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (pdt), and laser therapy are some of the available treatment options. there are no established clinical guidelines, so treatment decisions are usually based on the clinician s expertise and the owner s financial constraints. understanding the complex nature of canine melanoma is crucial for developing targeted therapies. future research should focus on establishing clinical guidelines to improve treatment outcomes.