[Primary intraocular malignant melanomas in dogs and cats]

22 primary intraocular malignant melanomas in the dog and 5 in the cat were classified histologically. Pigmented epithelioid cells and mixed cell type melanomas with high reticulin fiber content and areas of necrosis were associated with the highest mortality rate. Metastases were found in one case each in the dog and the cat. The average age at diagnosis was 8 years in the dog and 9 years in the cat. There was no indication that intraocular melanomas are more prevalent in certain breeds. In the dog the cases were equally distributed between the sexes, whereas in the cat males were overrepresented. The most frequent location for the tumor was the uvea anterior (ciliary body). Bilateral tumor expression was observed once in a dog. In all cases the clinical diagnosis, tumor induced secondary effects, differential diagnosis and catamnesis are given.