Adrenal incidentaloma diagnosed as a pheochromocytoma in a fifteen years old dog - an unexpected finding with deadly consequences
R Seixas and AM Alho*
Interdisciplinary Center of Research in Animal
Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University
of Lisbon (FMV-UTL), Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477
Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract
Adrenal incidentalomas are masses of the adrenal
gland discovered inadvertently during diagnostic procedures, from which a
significant percentage are pheochromocytomas and these tumors are rare. Here we
report a case of a 15-year-old male dog whose main complaints were a soft
cervical mass and mild generalized weakness. Blood cell count, routine
biochemistry, arterial blood pressure and electrocardiogram were performed.
Diagnostic imaging revealed a 3.5 cm mass next to the right adrenal gland.
Surgery was performed and histopathology examination of the mass confirmed a
malignant pheochromocytoma. The dog died 96 hours later after surgery. At
necropsy, metastasis was found in cervical lymph node. Considering vague and
episodic clinical signs, pheochromocytoma
antemortem diagnosis is uncommon. The main aim of this case is to highlight
this endocrinology disorder, increasing the awareness of clinicians to this
difficult diagnostic condition.