Open AccessUltrasonographic Characteristics of the Adrenal Glands in Dogs With Pituitary‐Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism: Comparison With Normal Dogs
Author(s) -
Grooters Amy M.,
Biller David S.,
Theisen Sharon K.,
Miyabayashi Takayoshi
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1996.tb02041.x
Subject(s) - medicine , echogenicity , adrenocortical hyperfunction , adrenal cortex , adrenal gland , hyperplasia , homogeneous , ultrasound , endocrinology , pathology , radiology , hydrocortisone , physics , thermodynamics
Ultrasonographic evaluation of the adrenal glands was performed in 10 dogs with pituitary‐dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) and in 10 age‐ and weight‐matched healthy control dogs. Thickness, shape, and echogenicity were determined for each adrenal gland. Adrenal thickness in dogs with PDH (median, 10 mm‐left; 8.5 mm‐right) was significantly greater than thickness in control dogs (median, 6 mm‐left; 6 mm‐right). Other ultrasonographic characteristics associated with PDH included bilaterally symmetrical adrenomegaly and maintenance of normal adrenal shape. Adrenal echogenicity was homogeneous and less than that of the adjacent renal cortex in 8 of 10 dogs with PDH and in 10 of 10 control dogs. Heterogenous echogenicity was present in 2 of 10 dogs with PDH, and was associated with nodular cortical hyperplasia in one of those dogs. Results of this study confirm the difference in sonographic appearance between PDH‐induced bilateral cortical hyperplasia and functional adrenocortical neoplasia, and show a difference in so‐nographically determined adrenal size between healthy dogs and dogs with PDH. J Vet Intern Med 1996; 10:110–115. Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine .