Computed tomographic adrenal gland quantification in canine adrenocorticotroph hormone-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.
We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether multidetector computed tomography (CT) could be of value for adrenal gland assessment in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Adrenal gland attenuation and volume values of 49 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism were recorded and age, body weight, and gender were examined to determine if a relationship existed between these variables and adrenal gland morphology. There was not a statistically significant difference in mean X-ray attenuation of the left vs. right adrenal gland in normal dogs (35.3 +/- 6.1 HU), or in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The mean adrenal X-ray attenuation (+/- standard deviation [SD]) in dogs with microadenoma was 33.1 +/- 6.8 vs. 31.8 +/- 12.7 HU for dogs with macroadenoma, and these values were not statistically different. The mean volume of the left adrenal gland in normal dogs (0.59 +/- 0.17 cm3) was greater than that of the right adrenal gland (0.54 +/- 0.19 cm3) (P < 0.05). The mean CT volume (+/- SD) of the adrenal glands in dogs with microadenoma vs. macroadenoma were 1.60 +/- 1.25 vs. 2.88 +/- 1.60 cm3, respectively. There was no effect of age or gender on adrenal gland morphology or X-ray attenuation. The weight effect was the most important source of variation for the volume measurement in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism.
San Marco Private Veterinary Clinic, Via Sorio 114/c, 35141 Padua, Italy. bertolini@sanmarcovet.it
Giovanna
G
Bertolini
Tommaso
T
Furlanello
Michele
M
Drigo
Marco
M
Caldin
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*