Have you ever seen this? - Melanoma on ear

And, if you have seen it, what did it turn out to be?

This is a glider's ear, for reference.

Wow, with a picture, I can now see what you were talking about. It looks like a mole! Curious to know what this ends up being.

Yep! I have one over here. This is on Princess, I got her back in 2004 and this came up on her ear when she was about two. Took her in to Dr.T and he looked at it, said it looked like a mole, we would keep an eye on it to see if any changes happened, and if so, we would go from there.

It has never gotten larger, nor smaller and has never bothered her.

I also just noticed, it looks to be in about the same place as the one you posted a picture of Val. Maybe it is just a delayed form of birthmark??

What's so crazy is that there weren't that many of us physically at the Rrroundup, but 2 gliders had this.

3 mine has a pink one thats still there.

There were 3 at the RRRound-up.

I didn't even know about yours, Jen! That's just such a strange thing to suddenly see all at once. I guess they could easily get moles like we do, but I wonder why they are all in virtually the same place?

I'm kinda feeling like a butt, then, for cutting it off of Ridges ear and having it tested. I guess, though, we will for sure know what it is then, huh?

Something_To_Believe_In wrote:

I'm kinda feeling like a butt, then, for cutting it off of Ridges ear and having it tested. I guess, though, we will for sure know what it is then, huh?

Always better to be safe then sorry. I would hate for it to be a birthmark that will harm them later on. My fathers birthmark (mole) ultimately killed him by developing into melanoma.

I hope that you are able to get an answer as to what it is and that it turns out to be nothing. Very interesting though for sure.

Did you ever find out what this is? My girl, Poppy has one.

OMG. I'm late in responding here.

There was a mix up with reports that I got and I just recently got it all figured out.

Here is the report from that one ear.

Quote :

Diagnosis
Melanoma, dermal, benign.

Comments
Melanocytomas are common, benign lesions of the dermis. The histologic features of this Sugar Glider lesion are consistent with dermal melanomas of other species. Heavily pigmented animals are predisposed to the development of melanocytomas. Complete surgical excision is curative, though these animals tend to develop additional tumors over time. In a small percentage of cases, there is malignant transformation of these benign lesions and surgical removal of all pigmented masses is recommended. Follow up clinical information is requested, as this is an uncommon species and the biological behavior of this type mass is not yet well characterized.

I'm taking the other glider from the RRRoundup in this Friday to have his removed and tested. Bobbie & Peggy, if your vet wants to remove it and pit it in fromalyn and send it here, we will test it for you for free as part of our cancer study.

Val, since Princess is 8 (almost 9) years old, I dont want to put her under. I would be more than willing to send it in once she passes over the bridge however as she will have a necropsy and histopath even if there are no visible signs of death (health related).

Very interesting however and I can tell you, if I ever have a younger glider express this, I will definitely send it over to you.

I'll check with Heather and see what it would cost to remove. She will be here to visit tomorrow. Thanks!

Just wanted to add that the second glider I took in to have his spot removed was also proven to be melanoma upon testing.

Wow....I didn't expect that. Is that something that would have spread internally if not removed? I need to talk to Heather about removing Poppy's.

As a follow up to this thread..... I have since had another glider come into the rescue with this issue and, as expected, upon testing his spot was also melanoma.

As an additional note, though I cannot say they are related for sure -- at least two of the gliders that I know of with this type of spot have passed away in the last year and both were found to have another form of cancer as their cause of death. I only mention it because of this statement

Quote :

Complete surgical excision is curative, though these animals tend to develop additional tumors over time. In a small percentage of cases, there is malignant transformation of these benign lesions and surgical removal of all pigmented masses is recommended

. In all likelihood, the presence of melanoma and the later development of another cancer are not related, but it is worth noting and tracking just in case.