Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with rare adrenal tumor causing diarrhea and lethargy
By Jihyun Kim et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2026·ee Seungjin Animal Medical Center, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Feline adrenal pheochromocytoma with a synaptophysin-positive, chromogranin A–negative immunophenotype
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was brought in with severe watery diarrhea, lethargy, and not eating. After tests, the vet found chronic kidney disease and a large cystic mass on the right adrenal gland. The cat underwent surgery to remove the adrenal mass, which was diagnosed as pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor. Thankfully, the cat recovered well after the surgery and remained stable for a year, with the kidney disease managed through medication.
People also search for: cat diarrhea lethargy treatment · feline adrenal tumor symptoms · chronic kidney disease in cats management
Abstract
Pheochromocytoma is a rare adrenal medullary neoplasm in cats, with limited published cases and diagnostic challenges due to variable clinical presentation. An 8-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with severe watery diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia. Diagnostic evaluation revealed chronic kidney disease, pyelonephritis, and a large cystic right adrenal mass identified on ultrasonography and computed tomography. Endocrine testing did not support hyperadrenocorticism or hyperaldosteronism, and functional assessment of catecholamine excess was not performed. Surgical adrenalectomy was elected due to mass size and rupture risk. Histopathological examination demonstrated a medullary adrenal neoplasm composed of polygonal cells arranged in characteristic packets. Immunohistochemistry revealed synaptophysin positivity with negative chromogranin A staining, supporting a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the cat remained normotensive and clinically stable at one year, with chronic kidney disease managed medically. This case underscores the diagnostic complexity of feline pheochromocytoma and highlights the importance of integrating imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, as chromogranin A negativity does not exclude this diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1801002