Pituitary corticotroph macrotumors. Diagnosis and treatment.
Pituitary corticotroph macrotumors occur in 10% to 50% of dogs with PDH. Clinical signs may be only those of hypercortisolism or may include neurologic signs such as stupor, inappetance, circling, or pacing. Currently, CT and MRI are the only tests that can confirm the presence of a pituitary macrotumor in these patients. Results of endocrine testing are not significantly different from those of dogs with a microtumor. When a macroscopic pituitary tumor is identified in a dog with neurologic signs, or if a larger tumor is found in a dog even in the absence of neurologic signs, radiation therapy is currently the treatment of choice. Unfortunately, success rates with treatment are variable. A better response may be seen if the tumor is smaller and neurologic signs are minimal or absent at the time of treatment.
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Department of Small Animal Medicine, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008939:Mitotane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013004:Somatostatin; D008939:Mitotane; D015282:Octreotide