Adrenocortical adenoma as a cause of Cushing's syndrome in dogs: Case report

Abstract

Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing Syndrome is an endocrine disease characterized by the serum increase of the hormone cortisol in the affected animals. It is commonly found in middle aged dogs to elderly. There are two spontaneous forms of hyperadrenocorticism: pituitary-dependent or pituitary-dependent (HDP) and adrenal-dependent (HDA). In the HDP form the disease is due to changes in the pituitary resulting in hyperfunction and adrenal hyperplasia. In the HDA form, there are adrenal dysfunctions such as primary hyperplasias and neoplasias. The objective of this study was to report a case of adrenal Cushing's syndrome dependent on adrenocortical adenoma, its diagnosis and therapeutic method used, as well as the efficacy of the treatment. The animal reported had characteristic clinical signs such as: lethargy, pendular abdomen, hepatomegaly and hypotrichosis with apparent decrease in skin thickening. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed unilateral enlargement of the left adrenal gland and there were no signs of invasion to adjacent structures. Adenomas or adenocarcinomas usually occur in only one adrenal, rarely in both. The diagnosis was made through the association of clinical exams with histopathological findings consistent with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical adenoma. As a therapeutic method of choice, unilateral adrenalectomy of the enlarged left gland was performed. The animal responded well and had excellent improvement in the clinical.