Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Systemic hypertension in a dog with a functional thyroid gland adenocarcinoma.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Simpson, Andrew C & McCown, Jennifer L
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old spayed female Alaskan Malamute weighing about 48 pounds had been experiencing long-term issues like panting, drinking and urinating a lot, weight loss, weakness in her back legs, and eating less than usual. When the vet checked her blood pressure, it was very high at 250 mm Hg, and they found a large, irregular mass in her thyroid gland. After diagnosing her with hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), the vet removed both lobes of the thyroid gland. Following the surgery, her blood pressure returned to normal, and she received additional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, to manage her condition. Overall, the treatment was successful in resolving her high blood pressure.
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 12-year-old 21.9-kg (48.48-lb) spayed female Alaskan Malamute with a long-term history of panting, polydypsia and polyuria, weight loss, hind limb weakness, and a decrease in appetite was evaluated for hypertension. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Use of Doppler sphygmomanometry revealed a systolic blood pressure of 250 mm Hg (mean value for 5 consecutive measurements). Palpation of the ventral cervical region revealed a fixed asymmetric mass in the area of the lobes of the thyroid gland. The portion of the mass on the right side was approximately 2 x 2 cm, whereas the portion of the mass on the left side was approximately 1 x 1.5 cm. Hyperthyroidism was diagnosed on the basis of high serum thyroxine concentrations. Thyroidectomy of both lobes of the gland was performed. Histologic examination revealed a bilateral, multilobulated, and encapsulated thyroid gland adenocarcinoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Thyroidectomy of both lobes of the gland was performed with clinical resolution of hypertension. The dog was treated postoperatively with chemotherapeutics, including doxorubicin and carboplatin, and external beam radiation. Calcium and thyroxine homeostasis fluctuated; however, the dog finally achieved concentrations within the respective reference ranges through the administration of calcitriol, calcium carbonate, and levothyroxine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This report describes concurrent hypertension in a dog with a functional thyroid gland adenocarcinoma with subsequent return of blood pressure values to within reference ranges after thyroidectomy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20001784/