How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:22:07 GMT

Was chest CT clear for mets?

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:40:14 GMT

Yes, I had a mistrust of the apparent benign nature reported in the history- but then doubted I think lurking in the depths of my memory banks was something about melanomas not necessarily behaving as predicted... I think from CT other regions were apparently clear at the time. But at a microscopic level I guess time will tell. Unfortunately am unlikely to get further follow up on this case.

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Sarah Keir — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:00:41 GMT

I don't think any melanomas are benign! They can act in a benign way for a period of time until they don't.

Hopefully the amputation has bought some time but likely further spread? Please keep us updated.

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:33:26 GMT

UPDATE for any interested

The owner of the cat in question wished to salvage the limb if possible and was referred to a specialist centre. Ultimately it was discovered there was metastasis to the popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes. Amputation was then elected in preference to more complex treatment options offered with an uncertain prognosis. The amputation was performed this week at the home veterinary clinic.... and the lymph nodes were BLACK!!

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Mark Hutchinson — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:59:12 GMT

Just all affected tissue which may or may not include the whole pad. Really the decision would be made at time of surgery but I would tell the client that the whole pad may need to be removed - from the phot it looks like the whole pad may need removing I just cant tell how deep the wound would be. It's going to take 4-6 weeks for the wound to heal though.

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 23:06:25 GMT

Thank you Mark Hutchinson for your reply, do you mean you would remove the whole pad with the laser?

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:15:24 GMT

[quote userid="7846" url="~/f/clinical-questions/30782/how-would-you-approach-an-apparently-benign-melanoma-on-the-foot-pad-of-a-cat/242558#242558"]Done[/quote]

Thanks so much ... I tweaked slightly to put your year of qual in the right section, and your name in the right order (I assume). Hope that's OK!

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Mark Hutchinson — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:55:09 GMT

Done

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:49:39 GMT

Mark Hutchinson A warm welcome, and thanks for chipping in. Can I ask you to pop over to your account settings here: https://www.vetsurgeon.org/user/settings and display your real name (tick under post options) and also complete a little detail in your profile here: https://www.vetsurgeon.org/members/vetmark/activities. Eg year and place of qual.

The reason I ask is that we're trying to have a level of transparency and accountability that is not available on other social media. It's important when people reply to a question that readers, inc the original poster, can put poster's advice into the context of their experience, quals etc.

One of the problems on Facebook is that everyone's opinion is given an equivalence it does not necessarily deserve. That may not matter when slagging off the Prime Minister of the day, but I think it does in a scientific arena.

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Mark Hutchinson — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:38:52 GMT

I would look at removing that with CO2 laser and leave to heal by second intention. Cats heal well and I wouldn't even bandage the foot after the initial 48 hours.

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Utlendigur — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:50:43 GMT

Never tried it but have heard of transposing digital pads to cover the main pad. https://vetfolio-vetstreet.s3.amazonaws.com/mmah/28/faf5ff200445c7902314961f36c7c9/filePV_29_01_39.pdf

RE: How would you approach an apparently benign melanoma on the foot pad of a cat?

Yantha Smyth — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 15:11:10 GMT