Hyperadrenocorticism in a cat

A diabetic cat with hyperadrenocorticism had polydipsia, polyuria, ventral abdominal alopecia, thin dry skin, and a pendulous abdomen. Results of laboratory testing indicated persistent resting hypercortisolemia, hyperresponsiveness of the adrenal glands (increased cortisol concentration) to ACTH gel, and no suppression of cortisol concentrations after administration of dexamethasone at 0.01 or 1.0 mg/kg of body weight. Necropsy revealed a pituitary gland tumor, bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, hepatic neoplasia, and demodicosis. Adrenal gland function was concurrently assessed in 2 cats with diabetes mellitus. One cat had resting hypercortisolemia, and both had hyperresponsiveness to ACTH gel (increased cortisol concentration) at one hour. After administration of dexamethasone (0.01 and 1.0 mg/kg), the diabetic cats appeared to have normal suppression of cortisol concentrations. The effects of mitotane were investigated in 4 clinically normal cats. Adrenocortical suppression of cortisol production occurred in 2 of 4 cats after dosages of 25, 37, and 50 mg/kg. Three cats remained clinically normal throughout the study. One cat experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia.     

Hyperadrenocorticism treated with metyrapone followed by bilateral adrenalectomy in a cat

A 6-year-old spayed female cat was evaluated for uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and poor hair coat. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included high serum activity of liver enzymes, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, glucosuria, and an exaggerated response to ACTH stimulation. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed large adrenal glands. Hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed. Treatment for a facial abscess was instituted along with administration of metyrapone for hyperadrenocorticism. After stabilization, bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. The cat recovered without complications and has remained clinically normal for 5 months with treatment of desoxycorticosterone pivalate and prednisone. Treatment with metyrapone appeared to stabilize the cat metabolically and clinically prior to surgery.     

Hyperadrenocorticism associated with excessive sex hormone production by an adrenocortical tumor in two dogs.

An 11-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever and a 9-year-old castrated male miniature Poodle were evaluated because of clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Cortisol testing did not support a diagnosis of hypercortisolemia in either dog; however, imaging studies revealed unilateral adrenal tumors in both dogs. Serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and estradiol were high in both dogs, and androstenedione concentrations were also high in 1 dog. It is suspected that sex hormone secretion by the adrenal tumors in these dogs resulted in clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical signs and hormonal abnormalities resolved in the male dog after surgical resection of the tumor. There was no improvement in clinical signs after treatment with mitotane in the female dog, which died 2 months after diagnosis. Histologic evaluation confirmed the presence of adrenocortical carcinoma in both dogs.     

Hyperaldosteronism in a cat with metastasised adrenocortical tumour

In a 12-year-old male shorthaired cat with attacks of hypokalaemic muscular weakness in spite of oral potassium supplementation, highly elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations in combination with low plasma renin activity pointed to primary hyperaldosteronism. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a large left-sided adrenal tumour growing into the phrenicoabdominal vein and the caudal vena cava. The tumour and its intravascular extension were surgically removed, but the subsequent stenosis of the caudal vena cava caused congestion and renal failure. At autopsy pulmonary micrometastases of the aldosteronoma were found.     

Uterine adenocarcinoma with abdominal metastases in an ovariohysterectomised cat

SURGICAL FINDINGS: an adenocarcinoma of the uterine stump with abdominal metastases is described in a 12.5-year-old incompletely ovariohysterectomised domestic shorthair cat. At the time of presentation, the adenocarcinoma had metastasised to the right perirenal lymph node, the abdominal aorta and the right ureter, resulting in the formation of a large cystic structure. This had compressed and displaced surrounding structures, including the abdominal vena cava and the right kidney, and formed multiple adhesions to the body wall and adjacent abdominal structures. Metastatic extension to the aorta had resulted in its regression into a 2 mm diameter non-pulsatile vessel. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: only one case of uterine adenocarcinoma has previously been reported in an ovariohysterectomised cat. As such, this represents a very unusual and severe complication following an incomplete ovariohysterectomy. Invasion of the tumour tissue into surrounding structures created further complications.     

Prostatic adenocarcinoma in a cat

Prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in an 11-year-old neutered cat. Clinical signs of the disease included hematuria and a mass in the caudal portion of the abdomen. Prostatectomy was performed. Doxorubicin was administered IV at a dosage of 30 mg/m2 of body surface, followed by cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m2, IV). After 4 treatments, low urine specific gravity and proteinuria developed, and treatment was discontinued. The cat was euthanatized 10 months after surgery because of recurrence of the neoplasm. Necropsy revealed metastasis to the lungs and pancreas.     

Disseminated adenocarcinoma with ocular involvement in a cat

Disseminated adenocarcinoma was associated with unilateral uveitis and multiple subcutaneous nodules in an 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat. Erythroleukemia and hind limb paresis developed over a 5-month period. At necropsy, numerous sites of metastases were found that had histologic features similar to the neoplasm in the left eye. Neoplastic cells were identified in the lungs, mediastinum, muscles, subcutaneous tissues, lymph nodes, and vasculature associated with the meninges of the brain and spinal cord. Morphologic associations were not found between erythroleukemia and the neoplastic process.     

Hyperadrenocorticism in a ferret

A 7-year-old adult male ferret had progressive hair loss that was bilaterally symmetric. Also clinically evident were severe dehydration, polydipsia, muffled heart sounds, weak femoral pulses, hepatomegaly, lethargy, weakness, temporal muscular atrophy, dyspnea, and weakness. The blood profile of the ferret indicated profound leukopenia, eosinopenia, and high phosphorus, BUN, creatinine, and potassium concentrations, as well as high aspartate transaminase activity; the albumin concentration was low. The serum cortisol concentration was 8.1 micrograms/dl. Necropsy and histologic findings confirmed a diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism, complicated by dilatative cardiomyopathy, chronic active hepatitis, and renal disease.     

Cyclic estrous-like behavior in a spayed cat associated with excessive sex-hormone production by an adrenocortical carcinoma

A 15-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for 1-year duration of cyclic intermittent estrous behavior. Diagnostic testing performed before referral, including baseline progesterone concentration, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone stimulation test and surgical exploratory laparotomy, had remained inconclusive for a remnant ovary. Evaluation of sex hormones before and after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration revealed increased basal concentrations of androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and normal ACTH-stimulated hormone concentrations. Enlargement of the right adrenal gland was identified by abdominal ultrasound. The cat underwent an adrenalectomy and histopathology of the excised adrenal gland was consistent with an adrenocortical carcinoma. Clinical signs resolved immediately following surgery, and most hormone concentrations declined to within or below the reference interval (RI) by 2 months after surgery.     

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with osteoblastic bone metastases in a cat

A 12-year-old male cat with depression and dyspnoea was presented for investigation. Radiography and computed tomography revealed hydrothorax and solid masses involving the sternum, ribs and thoracic vertebrae. The cat died two days after first presentation, and postmortem examination revealed lung masses and proliferative bony lesions. Histologically, a neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells was seen in the lungs, with a large amount of collagen and deposits of cholesterin. The bone lesions were also composed of neoplastic epithelial cells and abundant calcified osteoid, without atypia. A diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with osteoblastic bone metastases was made. This is the first reported case of osteoblastic metastases in the cat.     

Disseminated sweat gland adenocarcinoma with acronecrosis in a cat

Sweat gland adenocarcinomas are uncommon tumors in domestic animals. In this report, a cat with a disseminated sweat gland adenocarcinoma accompanied by acronecrosis is presented. The acronecrosis was characterized by ischemic necrosis and sloughing of the digits in all 4 feet. The neoplasm was characterized by a highly invasive and destructive cell population composed of pleomorphic and anaplastic glandular cells. Metastasis to the heart, lung, lymph nodes, liver and kidney was seen. Within the subcutis of the front feet small neoplastic foci extended to the distal phalanges and sloughed areas. There was also marked thrombosis unassociated with tumor invasion adjacent to areas of digital sloughing. In the rear paws, there was little tumor invasion, and thrombosis at the sloughed sites predominated.     

Regression of hypertrophic osteopathy in a cat after surgical excision of an adrenocortical carcinoma

A 12-year-old, spayed, female domestic shorthair cat was diagnosed with severe and extensive hypertrophic osteopathy of the appendicular skeleton. Diagnostic ultrasound detected a mass lesion in the right adrenal gland. A right adrenalectomy was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed an adrenocortical carcinoma. No radiographic evidence of pulmonary metastasis was found on initial presentation or recheck thoracic radiographs taken 15 weeks later. Almost complete regression of periosteal new bone formation occurred 15 weeks following the successful surgical removal of the adrenal tumor.     

Cystic nasal adenocarcinoma in a cat treated with piroxicam and chemoembolization

A 13-year-old, castrated male Siamese cat was presented with a 4-month history of recurrent seizures and bilateral conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Computed tomography of the brain and nose revealed a cystic lesion in the cranial cavity that compressed the brain and invaded the nose. Nasal biopsy revealed a nasal adenocarcinoma. The cat was treated with intermittent antibiotics, phenobarbital, piroxicam, and chemoembolization; it survived for 2 years after diagnosis.     

Probable hypercalcemia of malignancy in a cat with bronchogenic adenocarcinoma

An eight-year-old, neutered male, domestic shorthair cat was referred with a four-day history of acute vomiting. Hypercalcemia was identified on serum biochemical testing. Thoracic radiographs showed multiple pulmonary nodular densities. Postmortem and histopathological examination identified the nodules as bronchogenic adenocarcinoma with metastases to the tracheobronchial lymph nodes, diaphragm, and parietal pleura. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of hypercalcemia of malignancy associated with bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in a cat.