title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic evaluation of adrenal glands in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess vascular changes induced by hyperadrenocorticism of hyperplastic adrenal glands in dogs via contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) and 7 healthy control dogs ≥ 7 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were assigned to the PDH and control groups and to small-breed (n = 6), medium-breed (4), and large-breed (9) subgroups. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of both adrenal glands in each dog was performed with IV injections of contrast agent. Time-intensity curves for the adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla, and ipsilateral renal artery of both adrenal glands were generated. Perfusion variables (time to peak [TTP], upslope of wash-in phase, and downslope of washout phase) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography revealed no qualitative difference between PDH and control groups. Quantitatively, TTPs were longer in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla of the PDH group, compared with values for the control group, particularly in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla of the small-breed subgroup. Washout downslopes were lower for the renal artery, adrenal cortex, and adrenal medulla of the small-breed subgroup between the PDH and control groups. No other perfusion variables differed between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the adrenal glands in dogs with PDH revealed a delayed TTP in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla, compared with values for control dogs. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was able to detect vascular changes induced by hyperadrenocorticism. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether reference ranges for clinically normal dogs and dogs with PDH can be determined and applied in clinical settings.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals and Orthopaedics of Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. pascaline_pey@hotmail.fr
authors: Pascalline
authors: P
authors: Pey
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Daminet
authors: Pascale Marcel Yvonne
authors: PM
authors: Smets
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Duchateau
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: De Fornel-Thibaud
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Jimmy C H
authors: JC
authors: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media