title: Ultrasonographic characteristics of the adrenal glands in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism: comparison with normal dogs.
abstract: 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 sonographically determined adrenal size between healthy dogs and dogs with PDH.
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, USA.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Grooters
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Biller
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Theisen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Miyabayashi
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography