Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with acromegaly and diabetes treated by cryohypophysectomy
By Blois, S L & Holmberg, D L·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2008·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Cryohypophysectomy used in the treatment of a case of feline acromegaly.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old female cat was diagnosed with acromegaly, a condition caused by a tumor on her pituitary gland, which led to diabetes and symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight gain. After confirming the tumor with an MRI, the veterinarian performed a specialized surgery called cryohypophysectomy to remove it. Following the surgery, the cat's insulin levels improved, and her diabetes was managed with regular insulin doses. This case shows that cryohypophysectomy can be a safe and effective treatment for cats with pituitary tumors causing acromegaly, leading to a positive long-term outcome.
People also search for: cat diabetes treatment · acromegaly in cats · pituitary tumor surgery cat · cat excessive thirst and urination
Abstract
A 10-year-old female spayed cat was diagnosed with acromegaly secondary to a pituitary tumour. At the time of diagnosis, the cat had insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus and its insulin-like growth factor-I levels were elevated. Clinical signs included polyuria, polydipsia and weight gain. Persistent hyperglycaemia and glucosuria were identified, and fructosamine levels remained elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a pituitary tumour. Transsphenoidal cryohypophysectomy was used to treat the pituitary tumour. Postoperatively, the serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels decreased and the diabetes mellitus was controlled with routine levels of insulin. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second reported case of acromegaly treated with cryohypophysectomy, and the first that reports a favourable long-term outcome. Cryohypophysectomy may be a safe and effective treatment for cats with a pituitary mass resulting in acromegaly.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18684148/