Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with hair loss and high progesterone from adrenal tumor
By Boord, M & Griffin, C·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1999·Animal Dermatology Clinic of San Diego, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Progesterone secreting adrenal mass in a cat with clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old neutered male Himalayan cat was brought in for severe hair loss over the abdomen and thighs that had been getting worse for nine months. Tests showed high blood sugar and abnormal hormone levels, but initial assessments didn’t confirm a common adrenal condition. An ultrasound revealed a mass near the left kidney, which turned out to be an adrenal tumor after surgery. Following the removal of the tumor, the cat's blood sugar levels returned to normal, and his fur grew back healthy within a year.
People also search for: cat hair loss treatment · Himalayan cat adrenal tumor · hyperadrenocorticism symptoms in cats
Abstract
A 7-year-old 7-kg (16-lb) neutered male Himalayan cat had nonpruritic progressive alopecia of 9 months' duration. The cat had hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Physical examination revealed complete alopecia along the abdomen, inguinal area, medial and caudal areas of the thighs, ventral area of the thorax, and axilla. Clinical signs were consistent with endocrine-induced alopecia and hyperadrenocorticism, however, results of diagnostic tests (ACTH stimulation and low-dose dexamethasone suppression) were not supportive of hyperadrenocorticism. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a mass cranial to the left kidney. Blood samples were obtained before and after ACTH stimulation to measure sex hormone concentrations. Analysis revealed markedly high blood progesterone concentrations before and after ACTH stimulation. An adrenalectomy was performed and histologic examination of the mass revealed a well-differentiated adrenocortical carcinoma. The right adrenal gland could not be viewed during surgery and was assumed to be atrophic. Following surgery, the hyperglycemia and glucosuria resolved. Within 4 months of surgery, the hyperprogesteronemia had resolved, and at 12 months the cat's coat quality appeared normal. Findings suggest that cats with signs of hyperadrenocorticism should be evaluated not only for abnormal cortisol concentrations, but also for sex hormone abnormalities.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10088015/