Adrenocortical Adenocarcinoma in a Syrian Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus Auratus) With Suspected Hyperadrenocorticism

    April 2026 in “ Veterinary Medicine and Science ”
    Mathilde Firmin Billaux, Sabrina Vieu, Antoine Lecomte, Marie Cuvelier, Marine Rohel, J. Abadie, Nicolas Soëtart
    Studysummary In this case report, authors described a pet golden hamster with a confirmed adrenocortical adenocarcinoma, where laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging enabled antemortem diagnosis, despite the species' rarity for these procedures. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
    A 2-year-old female Syrian golden hamster was diagnosed with adrenocortical adenocarcinoma, presenting with non-pruritic truncal alopecia and suspected hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical examination and ultrasonography identified a mass consistent with an adrenal tumor, and cytology suggested an epithelial neoplasm. Despite normal cortisol levels, an elevated urinary cortisol-to-creatinine ratio indicated hypercortisolism. The hamster's condition worsened, leading to euthanasia, and necropsy confirmed the presence of a nodular mass in the adrenal gland. The case highlights the rarity of adrenal tumors in hamsters and the challenges in diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism due to limited diagnostic tools and species-specific reference values. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing endocrine dysfunctions in small mammals to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies.
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