Cutaneous Melanoma in a 13-Year-Old Persian Cat: A Case Study

Background: Melanoma in cats is a rare neoplastic condition, most commonly affecting the ears and skin of the head. Due to its low incidence, detailed clinicopathological reports are important to support accurate diagnosis and understanding of this disease in feline patients.

Aims: This case report aimed to describe the clinical presentation, histopathological features, and immunohistochemical findings of melanoma in a domestic cat.

Methods: A 13-year-old male tabby Persian cat was presented to a veterinary clinic in Yogyakarta with a solitary cutaneous nodule measuring approximately 2 cm. Surgical excision of the mass was performed, and the tissue was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Histopathological examination was conducted using routine microscopic evaluation. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-melan-A antibodies to confirm the melanocytic origin of the tumor.

Results: Microscopic examination revealed neoplastic melanocytes containing abundant melanin within the cytoplasm and surrounding tissue. The tumor cells were pleomorphic, exhibited large nuclei, and formed multiple nests separated by fibrovascular stroma within the epidermis. Areas of intratumoral necrosis were also observed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a positive immunoreactive response to anti-melan-A, supporting the diagnosis.

Conclusion: Based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the cutaneous mass was diagnosed as melanoma. This case highlights the importance of histopathology and immunohistochemistry in confirming feline melanoma.