Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Abnormal tissue found and removed near ovaries in young cat surgery
By Knight, Kristen et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·1VCA Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ectopic adrenal tissue in a cat that underwent an ovariohysterectomy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old female domestic shorthair cat had surgery to remove her ovaries, and during the procedure, the vet found unusual tissue near the ovaries. After taking out the tissue, tests showed it was actually ectopic adrenal tissue (normal adrenal tissue located in the wrong place) and not a problem with the adrenal glands. An ultrasound and a function test confirmed that her adrenal glands were healthy and working fine. The cat recovered well at home after the surgery without any complications.
People also search for: cat surgery recovery · ectopic adrenal tissue in cats · cat adrenal gland function test
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of ultrasound and adrenal function testing to confirm that excised periovarian tissue is normal ectopic adrenal tissue (EAT). ANIMAL: A 6-month-old female domestic shorthair cat. CLINICAL PRESENTATION, PROGRESSION, AND PROCEDURES: The cat underwent an ovariohysterectomy procedure, during which abnormal tissue was discovered adjacent to both ovaries. The tissue was removed during the ovariohysterectomy and submitted for histopathology, which was consistent with adrenal gland tissue, initially raising concern for an inadvertent adrenalectomy. Abdominal ultrasound and an adrenal function test were performed that confirmed normal adrenal structure and function; thus, the removed structure was diagnosed as EAT. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The patient continued to recover from the procedure uneventfully at home. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Parovarian nodules are an uncommon finding but when observed and biopsied, may be mistaken for physiologic adrenal tissue on the basis of histopathologic features alone without awareness of their existence and clinical context. The use of abdominal ultrasound and ACTH stimulation test offers an affirmative method of differentiating adrenal gland tissue from EAT.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37988763/