Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats
Urine marking, aggression, and other behavioral concerns are common reasons for cat owners to seek veterinary care. Empiric treatment for lower urinary tract disease or primary behavior disorders are commonly pursued, especially in those cases with normal routine laboratory evaluations. Herein, we r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1158142/full |
| _version_ | 1797805771774230528 |
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| author | Caylen G. Erger Allison L. Gerras Alan J. Conley Chen Gilor Karah Burns DeMarle Kent R. Refsal Jamie M. Fleming Dodd G. Sledge Daniel K. Langlois |
| author_facet | Caylen G. Erger Allison L. Gerras Alan J. Conley Chen Gilor Karah Burns DeMarle Kent R. Refsal Jamie M. Fleming Dodd G. Sledge Daniel K. Langlois |
| author_sort | Caylen G. Erger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urine marking, aggression, and other behavioral concerns are common reasons for cat owners to seek veterinary care. Empiric treatment for lower urinary tract disease or primary behavior disorders are commonly pursued, especially in those cases with normal routine laboratory evaluations. Herein, we report the clinicopathologic findings in eight sexually altered cats that were diagnosed with androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors. Nearly all cats (n = 7) initially were evaluated for inappropriate urination and pungent urine, with additional behavioral concerns including aggression (n = 3) and excess vocalization (n = 4) commonly reported. Penile barbs (n = 5) were identified in all five male cats, and an enlarged clitoris was observed in one female cat. Testing of serum androgen concentrations revealed abnormally high androstenedione (n = 1) or testosterone (n = 7) concentrations. In the five cases with available adrenal tissue, histopathologic evaluation identified either an adrenocortical adenoma (n = 3) or adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 2). Hormonal abnormalities resolved and clinical signs improved in the four cats that underwent surgical adrenalectomy, with each of these cats surviving >1 year. However, clinical signs were minimally impacted with medical treatments, including one cat in which trilostane treatment failed to improve clinical signs or testosterone concentrations. This collection of cases underscores the importance of a detailed physical examination as well as the consideration of endocrine disturbances in cats undergoing evaluation for inappropriate urination or aggression. Furthermore, this report adds to the growing body of evidence that sex-hormone secreting adrenal tumors in cats may be an under-recognized syndrome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:57:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-980519d6373145d8bc67173e7a2961cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:57:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-980519d6373145d8bc67173e7a2961cb2023-06-13T04:21:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-06-011010.3389/fvets.2023.11581421158142Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight catsCaylen G. Erger0Allison L. Gerras1Alan J. Conley2Chen Gilor3Karah Burns DeMarle4Kent R. Refsal5Jamie M. Fleming6Dodd G. Sledge7Daniel K. Langlois8Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United StatesVeterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, United StatesBluePearl Pet Hospital, Oak Creek, WI, United StatesVeterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, United StatesDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United StatesUrine marking, aggression, and other behavioral concerns are common reasons for cat owners to seek veterinary care. Empiric treatment for lower urinary tract disease or primary behavior disorders are commonly pursued, especially in those cases with normal routine laboratory evaluations. Herein, we report the clinicopathologic findings in eight sexually altered cats that were diagnosed with androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors. Nearly all cats (n = 7) initially were evaluated for inappropriate urination and pungent urine, with additional behavioral concerns including aggression (n = 3) and excess vocalization (n = 4) commonly reported. Penile barbs (n = 5) were identified in all five male cats, and an enlarged clitoris was observed in one female cat. Testing of serum androgen concentrations revealed abnormally high androstenedione (n = 1) or testosterone (n = 7) concentrations. In the five cases with available adrenal tissue, histopathologic evaluation identified either an adrenocortical adenoma (n = 3) or adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 2). Hormonal abnormalities resolved and clinical signs improved in the four cats that underwent surgical adrenalectomy, with each of these cats surviving >1 year. However, clinical signs were minimally impacted with medical treatments, including one cat in which trilostane treatment failed to improve clinical signs or testosterone concentrations. This collection of cases underscores the importance of a detailed physical examination as well as the consideration of endocrine disturbances in cats undergoing evaluation for inappropriate urination or aggression. Furthermore, this report adds to the growing body of evidence that sex-hormone secreting adrenal tumors in cats may be an under-recognized syndrome.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1158142/fulladrenalaggressionandrostenedionebehaviorperiuriatestosterone |
| spellingShingle | Caylen G. Erger Allison L. Gerras Alan J. Conley Chen Gilor Karah Burns DeMarle Kent R. Refsal Jamie M. Fleming Dodd G. Sledge Daniel K. Langlois Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats Frontiers in Veterinary Science adrenal aggression androstenedione behavior periuria testosterone |
| title | Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| title_full | Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| title_fullStr | Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| title_short | Case report: Androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| title_sort | case report androgen secreting adrenocortical tumors in eight cats |
| topic | adrenal aggression androstenedione behavior periuria testosterone |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1158142/full |
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