Page 897 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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Figure 18.42 Melanoma partially covered with hair on a pony’s neck
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually straightforward taking into account the site and appearance of the
tumour. Occasionally it is necessary to either take a biopsy or perform a fine-needle aspirate.
A fine needle is inserted into the tumour and cells are drawn into a syringe for examination
under a microscope. With single, small discrete masses, surgical removal is recommended
where possible to prevent transformation to malignancy at a later stage. These should be sent
off to the laboratory for confirmation of the diagnosis. It has been proposed that up to two-
thirds of these tumours have the potential to become malignant.
Treatment
