Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2013 Oct 14:2013:bcr2013008566.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008566.

Canine olfactory detection of malignant melanoma

Leon Frederick Campbell  1 , Luke Farmery, Susannah Mary Creighton George, Paul B J Farrant
Affiliations
Case Reports

Canine olfactory detection of malignant melanoma

Leon Frederick Campbell et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Our patient is a 75-year-old man who presented after his pet dog licked persistently at an asymptomatic lesion behind his right ear. Examination revealed a nodular lesion in the postauricular sulcus. Histology confirmed malignant melanoma, which was subsequently excised. Canine olfactory detection of human malignancy is a well-documented phenomenon. Advanced olfaction is hypothesised to explain canine detection of bladder, breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, prostate and skin cancers. Further research in this area may facilitate the development of a highly accurate aid to diagnosis for many malignancies, including melanoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The patient's dog.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The patient's lesion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Office for National Statistics Cancer incidence and mortality in the UK, 2007–2009. Newport: Office for National Statistics, 2012
    1. National Cancer Intelligence Network Cancer incidence and mortality by cancer network, UK, 2005. London: National Cancer Intelligence Network Coordinating Centre, 2008
    1. Calonje E. The histological reporting of melanoma. J Clin Pathol 2000;2013:587–90 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Breslow A. Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg 1970;2013:902–8 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sidhu S, Bodger O, Williams N, et al. The number of benign moles excised for each malignant melanoma: the number needed to treat. Clin Exp Dermatol 2012;2013:6–9 - PubMed

Publication types