Corticosterone- and aldosterone-secreting adrenocortical tumor in a dog

A dog was evaluated for clinical signs suggestive of hypercortisolemia. Serum biochemical testing revealed hypernatremia and hypokalemia. Serum cortisol concentration after injection of ACTH was less than the lower reference limit. An adrenal gland tumor was visualized via ultrasonography and comput...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 226; no. 10; pp. 1662 - 1666
Main Authors Behrend, E.N, Weigand, C.M, Whitley, E.M, Refsal, K.R, Young, D.W, Kemppainen, R.J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 15.05.2005
Subjects
adrenal cortex
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - diagnosis
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - drug therapy
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - metabolism
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms - veterinary
adrenal gland diseases
aldosterone
Aldosterone - blood
Aldosterone - metabolism
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - therapeutic use
case studies
clinical examination
corticosterone
Corticosterone - blood
Corticosterone - metabolism
cortisol
disease diagnosis
Doberman Pinscher
dog diseases
Dog Diseases - blood
Dog Diseases - diagnosis
Dog Diseases - drug therapy
Dogs
Female
females
medical treatment
Mitotane - therapeutic use
neoplasms
radiography
symptoms
Treatment Outcome
ultrasonography
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Summary:A dog was evaluated for clinical signs suggestive of hypercortisolemia. Serum biochemical testing revealed hypernatremia and hypokalemia. Serum cortisol concentration after injection of ACTH was less than the lower reference limit. An adrenal gland tumor was visualized via ultrasonography and computed tomography. Histologic examination confirmed that the mass was an adrenocortical carcinoma. Excess adrenal secretion of corticosterone was hypothesized to be the cause of the signs of glucocorticoid excess. Serum corticosterone secretion was high before and after ACTH injection, compared with clinically normal dogs and dogs with hypercortisolemia and classic hyperadrenocorticism. Hyperaldosteronemia was detected as well. Treatment with mitotane was instituted and successful for a period of 4-months until the dog was euthanatized for neurologic problems that were most likely unrelated to endocrine disease.
ISSN:0003-1488
1943-569X
DOI:10.2460/javma.2005.226.1662