Histiocytoma
Disease Description and Clinical Picture
Histiocytoma is a benign tumor that arises from the Langerhans cells of the skin. It appears as a single, well-defined mass on the skin of the eyelid, which is not covered with hair (the tumor causes alopecia), hence it is pink in color. Central ulceration of the tumor is a common occurrence (so-called "central umbilication"). It's important to note that the tumor can "spontaneously" disappear (regress) due to the immune response of T lymphocytes. Generally, it doesn't pose a problem, but sometimes it can ulcerate, and newly formed wounds can get infected or may be prone to injury and bleeding. It most commonly occurs in young dogs, and the skin of the head (muzzle, ears, eyelids) a predisposed site for tumor development. It is frequent in dog breeds such as bulldogs, Staffordshire terriers, pit bull terriers, Scottish terriers, Cocker Spaniels, boxers, and dachshunds. Histiocytoma has not been recorded in cats.
 
Therapy
There are tumors that are anatomically similar to histiocytoma but are malignant. Therefore, precise diagnostics are extremely important. Diagnosis is made by histopathological analysis of the tumor. Histiocytomas often do not need to be surgically removed, as they spontaneously disappear about three months after their appearance. If they do not regress spontaneously, or their location is such that they bother the animal (irritate the cornea, are prone to bleeding or infection), they should be surgically removed.
 
Please contact our specialty veterinary ophthalmology hospital Animal Eye Consultants
of Iowa (animaleyeiowa@gmail.com) in USA or Oculus Veterinary Specialty Hospital
(oculusklinika@gmail.com) in Serbia, Europe to schedule an appointment so your pet
can be seen.