Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hyperadrenocorticism and diabetes in four cats explained
By Immink, W F et al.·Published in The veterinary quarterly·1992·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Netherlands·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Hyperadrenocorticism in four cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Four cats were diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism, a condition that affects hormone levels. One cat showed excessive thirst and hunger, and after tests, it was found to have a pituitary tumor. Another cat with diabetes had a swollen belly and a poor coat, and tests confirmed hyperadrenocorticism due to a pituitary tumor. A third cat had muscle weakness and skin issues, leading to the discovery of an adrenal gland cancer. The last cat initially had excessive thirst, but after a year and a half, it developed more symptoms, and tests revealed a mass near its kidney indicating hyperadrenocorticism. Treatment options would depend on the specific diagnosis for each cat.
People also search for: cat hyperadrenocorticism symptoms · cat diabetes treatment · cat adrenal gland tumor signs
Abstract
This paper describes four cats with hyperadrenocorticism. Cat 1 showed polydipsia and polyphagia. Diabetes mellitus was initially diagnosed. As the animal appeared to be insulin resistant, pituitary and adrenocortical function tests were performed and the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was made. Resistance to the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test was noticed in this cat. Pathological examination revealed a pituitary chromophobe adenoma. Cat 2 presented with diabetes mellitus, which was treated with insulin. The animal had a pendulous abdomen and its coat was in a poor condition. The low-dose dexamethasone suppression test demonstrated hyperadrenocorticism. Necropsy findings of pituitary tumour and hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex confirmed the diagnosis. Cat 3 showed clinical abnormalities indicative of hyperadrenocorticism, for instance, muscle weakness, alopecia, multiple abscesses. The diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was confirmed by the results of the lowe-dose dexamethasone suppression test. Pathological examination revealed an adrenocortical carcinoma. Cat 4 presented with polydipsia. The cause of this symptom was not found initially. One and a half years later additional symptoms, such as nephritis and polyphagia developed. Hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed because of a palpable mass cranial to the left kidney. The diagnosis was confirmed by the results of the lowe-dose dexamethasone suppression test and the necropsy findings.
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/1413443/