Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Calcified heart valve mass in a dog with Cushing's disease
By Tomoki Wada et al.·Published in BMC Veterinary Research·2025·Japan Animal Cardiovascular Care Team, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Calcified mass attached to mitral valve chordae tendineae in a dog with hyperadrenocorticism: A case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old spayed female Maltese was brought in with severe heart problems, specifically mitral regurgitation, and was diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), a hormonal disorder. An echocardiogram showed a calcified mass attached to the heart's mitral valve. The vet performed surgery to remove the mass and repair the valve, but unfortunately, the dog developed aspiration pneumonia after the operation and passed away two days later. This case emphasizes the serious heart complications that can arise in dogs with HAC.
People also search for: dog heart problems mitral valve · Maltese hyperadrenocorticism treatment · dog surgery complications pneumonia
Abstract
Abstract Background Dystrophic calcification affecting cardiac structures secondary to hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is rare in dogs. This case report describes the clinical, imaging, surgical, and pathological findings of a 9-year-old spayed female Maltese dog with severe mitral regurgitation and HAC-related systemic calcification presenting as an intracardiac calcified mass. Case presentation Severe mitral valve thickening and a mobile hyperechoic mass attached to the chordae tendineae were detected on echocardiography. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed, and the calcified mass was excised. Histopathology confirmed a non-neoplastic calcified lesion. Computed tomography revealed extensive calcification in various tissues. The dog developed postoperative aspiration pneumonia and died on postoperative day 2. Conclusions This case highlights the potential for intracardiac dystrophic calcification in dogs with HAC and severe mitral valve disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-05172-2