Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan signs of acromegaly in diabetic cats with hypersomatotropism
By Lamb, Christopher R et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2014·Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Computed tomographic signs of acromegaly in 68 diabetic cats with hypersomatotropism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 68 diabetic cats with a condition called hypersomatotropism (which causes excess growth hormone) underwent CT scans to look for signs of acromegaly, a disorder that can lead to noticeable changes in their appearance. The scans revealed that most of these cats had a pituitary mass, and their skull bones were thicker compared to healthy cats. However, recognizing acromegaly based solely on facial features can be challenging, as the changes are often subtle. If your cat has diabetes and you notice any unusual growth or changes in their face, it's important to discuss these symptoms with your veterinarian.
People also search for: cat diabetes symptoms · acromegaly in cats · signs of pituitary tumor in cats · cat facial changes diabetes
Abstract
In order to describe the signs of acromegaly in cats, a case-control study was done based on computed tomography (CT) scans of the heads of 68 cats with hypersomatotropism and 36 control cats. All cats with a diagnosis of hypersomatotropism had diabetes mellitus, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 >1000 ng/ml and a pituitary mass. Measurements of bones and soft tissues were done by two independent observers without knowledge of the diagnosis. Pituitary masses were identified in CT images of 64 (94%) cats with hypersomatotropism. Analysis of variance found a moderate effect of gender on the size of bones and a large effect of hypersomatotropism on the size of bones and thickness of soft tissues. In cats with hypersomatotropism the frontal and parietal bones were, on average, 0.8 mm thicker (P <0.001); the distance between the zygomatic arches was, on average, 5.4 mm greater (P <0.001); and the mandibular rami were, on average, 1.1 mm thicker (P <0.001) than in control cats. The skin and subcutis dorsal to the frontal bone were, on average, 0.4 mm thicker (P = 0.001); lateral to the zygomatic arch were, on average, 0.7 mm thicker (P <0.001); and ventral to the mandibular rami were, on average, 1.1 mm thicker (P = 0.002) in cats with hypersomatotropism than in control cats. The cross-sectional area of the nasopharynx was, on average, 11.1 mm(2) smaller in cats with hypersomatotropism than in control cats (P = 0.02). Prognathia inferior and signs of temporomandibular joint malformation were both observed more frequently in cats with hypersomatotropism than in control cats (P = 0.03). Overall, differences between affected and unaffected cats were small. Recognising feline acromegaly on the basis of facial features is difficult.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23847300/