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Veterinary pathology2005; 42(1); 52-58; doi: 10.1354/vp.42-1-52

Metastatic tumors to the adrenal glands in domestic animals.

Abstract: Although metastases to the adrenals are common in humans, they have not been thoroughly studied in animals. The purpose of this retrospective study was to document the types of malignant tumors that metastasize to canine, feline, equine, and bovine adrenals, and the rate at which they do so. The average rate of adrenal involvement in metastatic cancer was 112/534 (21.0%) in dogs, 12/81 (14.8%) in cats, 18/67 (26.9%) in horses, and 5/16 (31.3%) in cattle. In dogs, 26 different tumor types metastasized to the adrenals. Pulmonary, mammary, prostatic, gastric, and pancreatic carcinomas, and melanoma had the highest rates of metastasis to the adrenal glands in dogs. Hemangiosarcoma and melanoma had high rates of adrenal involvement in horses. In cats and cattle, relevant data were only available for lymphoma. Adrenal metastases usually occurred in the late stages of the disease. One dog had developed Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) secondary to lymphoma. Metastatic lesions represented 126/472 (26.7%) of canine, 12/20 (60.0%) of feline, 21/80 (26.3%) of equine, and 5/9 (55.5%) of bovine adrenal neoplasms. This study shows that adrenal glands should be thoroughly examined during both clinical work-up and postmortems when disseminated neoplasia is suspected.
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Publication Date: 2005-01-20 PubMed ID: 15657272DOI: 10.1354/vp.42-1-52Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigated the types and patterns of malignant tumor metastasis to the adrenal glands in domestic animals, noting that this issue has not been thoroughly researched. The study found different rates of metastasis among dogs, cats, horses and cattle with various types of cancer.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of the study was to identify and document the types of malignant tumors that spread (metastasize) to the adrenal glands in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle, and to determine the frequency of such metastases using a retrospective study approach.
  • This approach reviewed past cases and records to gather comprehensive data, bypassing the need for real-time observations which could be time-consuming and complex.

Findings and Analysis

  • The study discovered that, on average, the rate that metastatic cancer involved the adrenal glands was 21.0% in dogs, 14.8% in cats, 26.9% in horses, and 31.3% in cattle. This indicates that a significant fraction of these animals with cancer experienced spread of the disease to their adrenal glands.
  • In dogs, 26 different types of tumors were found to metastasize to the adrenals. The most frequent metastasis to the adrenal glands was associated with pulmonary, mammary, prostatic, gastric, and pancreatic carcinomas, and melanoma.
  • For horses, it was observed that hemangiosarcoma and melanoma notably often resulted in adrenal involvement.
  • For cats and cattle, significant data was only available for lymphoma. This lack of data regarding other cancers underscores the lack of comprehensive research done on this topic in these species.
  • Metastases to the adrenals usually marked the late stages of the disease. One dog was also found to have developed Addison’s disease (a condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones) as a result of lymphoma.

Conclusion and Implication for Clinical Practice

  • The study concluded that adrenal glands should be thoroughly examined during both clinical work-up and postmortems when disseminated neoplasia (widespread occurrence of tumors) is suspected.
  • This suggests that adrenal assessment could be a standard part of diagnosis and treatment procedures for pets diagnosed with or suspected to have cancer, which could improve their prognosis and outcome.

Cite This Article

APA
Labelle P, De Cock HE. (2005). Metastatic tumors to the adrenal glands in domestic animals. Vet Pathol, 42(1), 52-58. https://doi.org/10.1354/vp.42-1-52

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 0300-9858
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 42
Issue: 1
Pages: 52-58

Researcher Affiliations

Labelle, P
  • Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. plabelle@vmth.ucdavis.edu
De Cock, H E V

    MeSH Terms

    • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary
    • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / veterinary
    • Animal Diseases / pathology
    • Animals
    • Cat Diseases / pathology
    • Cats
    • Cattle
    • Cattle Diseases / pathology
    • Dog Diseases / pathology
    • Dogs
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / pathology
    • Horses
    • Male
    • Retrospective Studies

    Citations

    This article has been cited 16 times.
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