title: Clinical findings, diagnostics and outcome in 33 cats with adrenal neoplasia (2002-2013).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical signs and diagnostic findings in cats with histopathologically confirmed adrenal neoplasms, and to assess correlations with survival data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study data were acquired by reviewing medical records for all cats diagnosed with adrenal neoplasms at seven referral institutions between 2002 and 2013. Inclusion criteria required a histopathologic diagnosis of an adrenal neoplasm (ante-mortem or on necropsy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three cats met the inclusion criteria for the study. The most common presenting complaints included weakness (n = 12), respiratory signs (n = 4), blindness (n = 4) or gastrointestinal signs (n = 3). Laboratory abnormalities included hypokalemia (n = 18), alkalemia (n = 12), elevated creatine kinase (>3000, n = 5) and azotemia (n = 4). In addition, hypertension was noted in 13 cats. Thirty cats were diagnosed with cortical tumors (17 carcinomas, 13 adenomas) and three cats were diagnosed with pheochromocytomas. Twenty-five cats underwent tests to evaluate the function of the adrenal tumors; 19/25 cats had functional tumors (hyperaldosteronism [n = 16], hypercortisolemia [n = 1], high estradiol [n = 1], and hypersecretion of aldosterone, estradiol and progesterone [n = 1]). Twenty-six cats underwent adrenalectomy, one cat was medically managed and six were euthanized without treatment. Long-term survival postoperatively ranged from 4-540 weeks, with 20 (77%) cats surviving the perioperative period of 2 weeks. The only variable that was found to be negatively associated with survival was female sex. The most common complications noted during the perioperative period were hemorrhage and progressive lethargy and anorexia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment for feline adrenal tumors (regardless of tumor type) resulted in good long-term survival. Given that pre- and postoperative hypocortisolemia was identified in this study, and, in addition, hypersecretion of more than one adrenal hormone occurred in one cat, adrenal panels prior to surgery may be beneficial as part of the preoperative work-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA orla.mahony@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Orla M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Mahony
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Markovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Animal Medical Center, USA; VCA Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Appleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Monaghan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Yuri A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, Norwalk, CT, USA.
authors.forename: E Hathaway
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Fiocchi
authors.affiliation: Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists, Largo, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kelli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Companion Animal Hospital, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000662:veterinary; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000662:veterinary*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000662:veterinary; D006973:Hypertension / Q000662:veterinary; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies