Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treated with Adrenalectomy in a Dog

Abstract

A 13-year-old female English Setter with adrenocortical carcinoma was treated with adrenalectomy before onset of hyperadrenocorticism. The grossly visible neoplastic mass including the ipsilateral adrenal gland was completely removed. The contralateral adrenal gland seemed to be normal, however postsurgical hyperkalemia caused from mineral corticoid deficiency appeared and was corrected by predonisolone administration. Ten months after surgery, lung metastasis was radiographically observed and several abnormalities associated with hyperadrenocorticism were detected on both physical and blood examinations. By administration of cisplatin, a transient improvement of the clinical signs and a decrease in plasma cortisol concentration were obtained, however 2 weeks later, the patient died. Necropsy revealed severe metastatic lesions in the lung, spleen, liver, kidney, small intestine, and brain.