Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with paraganglioma, pituitary tumor, and bone cancer
By Robat, Cecilia et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2016·UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Paraganglioma, pituitary adenoma, and osteosarcoma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old neutered male Alaskan Malamute was brought to the vet because he was drinking and urinating a lot, losing weight, breathing rapidly, and regurgitating. During the exam, the vet found an abdominal mass, which was later identified as a neuroendocrine tumor. Tests showed he had elevated calcium levels and signs of a pituitary gland issue. Despite supportive care, his condition worsened, and he was euthanized six months later. A necropsy revealed he had a pheochromocytoma (a type of tumor), a pituitary adenoma, and a previously diagnosed osteosarcoma.
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Abstract
An 11-year-old neutered male Alaskan Malamute mixed-breed dog was presented with a complaint of polyuria/polydipsia (PU/PD), weight loss, tachypnea, regurgitation, and a previous history of nontreated osteosarcoma of the right distal radius, diagnosed 21 months prior. On physical examination, an abdominal mass was palpated. The abdominal mass was aspirated and cytologically diagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor, suspected to be a pheochromocytoma. Laboratory examination revealed a mild anemia and thrombocytopenia, markedly elevated ATP and ALP activities, and moderate hypercalcemia. A low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration were compatible with pituitary hyperadrenocorticism. On urinalysis, proteinuria was noted as well as a high urine metanephrine/creatinine ratio, consistent with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The dog was treated with supportive care and euthanized 6 months later due to decreasing quality of life. On necropsy, an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma (paraganglioma) was diagnosed in the caudal abdomen, and a pituitary adenoma and an osteosarcoma of the right distal radius were confirmed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27428777/