Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with pituitary cancer causing high cortisol and weight loss
By Kimitsuki, Kazunori et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2014·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case report of feline pituitary carcinoma with hypercortisolism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old male Japanese domestic cat was brought to the vet because he was not eating and was losing weight. Sadly, he passed away 17 days later due to worsening neurological issues. A post-mortem examination revealed a large pituitary tumor that had invaded nearby brain tissue and bone. This type of tumor is rare in cats and can lead to serious health problems. Unfortunately, there was no successful treatment in this case, highlighting the aggressive nature of such tumors.
People also search for: cat weight loss · cat not eating · feline pituitary tumor symptoms · cat neurological problems · pituitary carcinoma treatment in cats
Abstract
Feline pituitary tumors are rare. An 8-year-old male Japanese domestic cat presented with anorexia and emaciation. The cat died 17 days after admission from progressive neurological symptoms. At necropsy, a pituitary tumor measuring 25 × 18 × 15 mm was found. Microscopically, the tumor was divided into multiple lobules and had grown invasively into the adjacent brain tissue and sphenoid bone. Tumor cells had pleomorphic nuclei with prominent centrally located nucleoli and abundant amphophilic polygonal cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells stained with anti-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), α-melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH) and β-endorphin antibodies. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm of the tumor cells contained various sized secretory granules. Based on these pathological findings, this tumor was diagnosed as pituitary carcinoma originated from pars intermedia cells.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24025433/