Use of porcine small intestinal submucosa for reconstruction of a soft palate defect following marginal resection of a melanoma in a dog.

A 12-year-old castrated male golden retriever was referred for evaluation of a palatal mass. Computed tomography identified a 2.7 × 2.0 × 1.5 cm soft tissue mass extending from the caudal aspect of the hard palate to the rostral soft palate. Bilateral caudal maxillectomy was declined by owners; thus, a marginal resection was performed. The resultant palatal defect was closed using porcine small intestinal submucosa. Histopathology was consistent with a poorly pigmented malignant melanoma. The dog recovered well with no incisional complications or difficulty eating. The dog was euthanased 22 months postoperatively by the referring veterinarian. At the time of euthanasia, no evidence of local recurrence was noted. This report describes the novel use of porcine small intestinal submucosa for closure of a full-thickness palatal defect following marginal resection of a malignant oral melanoma.