Ultrasound Examination of the Feline Adrenal Gland

Cartee, Robert E.; Bodner, Susan T. Finn; Gray, B.W.

doi:10.1177/875647939300900607

Cited by 25 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The adrenal measurements of our control group are similar to those reported previously (Table ) . Compared to the mean ultrasonographic measurements of normal feline adrenal glands, the adrenal enlargement detected in hyperthyroid cats represents an increase in 16% and 17% of the length of the left and right adrenal glands, respectively, and an increase in 21–22% and 11–24% of the height of the left and right adrenal glands, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

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Ultrasonographic Measurements of Adrenal Glands in Cats With Hyperthyroidism

Combes

Vandermeulen

Duchateau

et al. 2011

Vet Radiology Ultrasound

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Feline hyperthyroidism is potentially associated with exaggerated responsiveness of the adrenal gland cortex. The adrenal glands of 23 hyperthyroid cats were examined ultrasonographically and compared to the adrenal glands of 30 control cats. Ten hyperthyroid cats had received antithyroid drugs until 2 weeks before sonography, the other 13 were untreated. There was no difference in adrenal gland shape between healthy and hyperthyroid cats: bean-shaped, well-defined, hypoechoic structures surrounded by a hyperechoic halo in 43/60 (71.6%) healthy cats and 34/46 (73.9%) hyperthyroid cats; more ovoid in 13/60 (21.6%) healthy cats and 9/46 (19.6%) hyperthyroid cats while more elongated in 4/60 (6.7%) healthy cats, 3/46 (6.5%) hyperthyroid cats. Hyperechoic foci were present in 9/23 (39.1%) hyperthyroid cats and 2/30 (6.7%) healthy cats. The adrenal glands were significantly larger in hyperthyroid cats, although there was overlap in size range. The mean difference between hyperthyroid cats and healthy cats was 1.6 and 1.7 mm in left and right adrenal gland length, 0.8 and 0.9 mm in left and right cranial adrenal gland height, and 0.4 and 0.9 mm in left and right caudal adrenal gland height. There was no significant difference between the adrenal gland measurements in treated and untreated hyperthyroid cats. The adrenomegaly was most likely associated with the hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex documented in hyperthyroid cats. Hyperthyroidism should be an alternative to hyperadrenocorticism, hyperaldosteronism, and acromegaly in cats with bilateral moderate adrenomegaly.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…However, little data are available about the ultrasonographic appearance of adrenal glands in sick cats. In 24 sick cats without endocrine disease there was no difference in adrenal gland size compared to normal cats . Also, adrenal glands in diabetic cats were not enlarged compared with those of healthy cats …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Ultrasonographic Measurements of Adrenal Glands in Cats With Hyperthyroidism

Combes

Vandermeulen

Duchateau

et al. 2011

Vet Radiology Ultrasound

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“…A previous study with a very similar scanning protocol reports that the only significant differences between the post-mortem physical measurements and the ultrasonographical measurements are in width. 2 Comparing the maximum short-axis measurements (reported as 5.3 mm in a previous study 3 ), the present height measurements never reached 5 mm, whereas the width measurements reached 6 mm. The ultrasonographical adrenal width appears to be a less reliable measurement in cats.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 43%

“…3 The lack of standardised scanning protocol in previous studies of ultrasonographical adrenal measurements makes comparison between them and with our study difficult. 2,3 Although the length is clearly anatomically defined, the short-axis measurements are more variable when called thickness, height or width. We constrained ourselves to strict scanning planes to define the height of the adrenal gland in a dorsoventral plane and the width in a mediolateral plane.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonographical examination of feline adrenal glands: intra- and inter-observer variability

Combes

Stock

Vekens

et al. 2014

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Interpretation of ultrasonographical measurements requires an understanding of the source and the magnitude of variation. A substantial part of the variation can be attributed to the observer, the equipment or the animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate which adrenal gland measurement is the least variable within and between observers. Three experienced ultrasonographers examined six cats at three different times on the same day, more than 1 h apart, according to a strict scanning protocol. Seven ultrasonographical measurements were performed on each adrenal gland (maximal length on sagittal images, maximal height at the cranial and caudal poles on sagittal and transverse images, and maximal width of the cranial and caudal poles on transverse images). Height measurements in both planes showed the lowest variability within and between observers compared with length and width measurements. Descriptive ultrasonographical features, such as echogenicity of the gland, presence of hyperechoic spots or layering assessment, demonstrated satisfactory-to-good intra- and inter-observer agreement, whereas the shape assessment showed very poor inter-observer agreement. The results of this study describe a reliable scanning protocol that can be the basis for future adrenal ultrasonographical examinations for cats suspected of adrenal disease (eg, hyperaldosteronism, hyperadrenocorticism, sex hormone-producing tumours).

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“…A maximal diameter of 7.4 mm (in either width or thickness) has been proposed as the upper limit of adrenal gland diameter in normal dogs. 36 In another report, the normal upper limit of width was reported as 5.3 mm in 20 administration of a microbubble contrast agent. Consequently, preliminary findings indicate a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 77% and 80% to 90%, respectively, for diagnosis of PDH based on the upper limit of 7.4 mm in diameter.…”

Section: Normal Adrenal Gland Sizementioning

confidence: 97%