Surgical management of cutaneous histiocytoma in a five-year-old golden retriever

Background: Canine cutaneous histiocytoma is a benign skin tumor originating from epidermal Langerhans cells, most commonly affecting young dogs and often presenting as a solitary, alopecic, dome-shaped mass. While many histiocytomas undergo spontaneous regression, surgical management is indicated when the lesion fails to regress, shows rapid growth, ulceration, or causes discomfort.Case presentation: A five-year-old male Golden Retriever presented with a solitary, firm, erythematous cutaneous mass located on palmar surface of the digit. The mass had shown progressive growth over the past three months, without signs of spontaneous regression. Post-surgical histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous histiocytoma with no evidence of metastasis.Management and Outcome: Complete surgical excision of the mass was performed under general anesthesia. Histopathology confirmed complete removal with clear margins. Post-operative recovery was uneventful, and at follow-up at fourth week, the dog demonstrated good wound healing with no evidence of recurrence.Conclusion: Although most canine cutaneous histiocytomas spontaneously regress, surgical excision is a reliable and curative option when the tumor persists, increases in size, or causes clinical concern. Early diagnosis and appropriate surgical intervention can ensure excellent outcomes.