Clinical and Imagistic Aspects in Dog’s Hyperadrenocorticism Determined by Pituitary and Adrenal Nodules with Secretory Function
TLDR Most dogs with Cushing's syndrome have pituitary tumors causing varied symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
The document discussed pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) in dogs, which was the most common cause of Cushing's syndrome. It noted that approximately 85% of dogs with PDH had functional ACTH-secreting tumors found during necropsy. PDH often led to concurrent clinical diseases, complicating diagnosis and examination. Symptoms prompting veterinary visits were varied and not specific to hyperadrenocorticism, including diabetes, ascites, nervous symptoms, chronic skin disease, bilateral hair loss, urinary incontinence, liver disease, and low back pain. The secretion of ACTH and cortisol was often episodic, causing fluctuations that could result in normal serum levels and negative results in ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests, despite the presence of the disease.
