RETROSPECTIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF ADRENAL LESIONS IN 26 DOGS

A review was performed of ultrasonographic findings in 26 dogs with co nfirmed adrenal lesions. Adrenal shape, size, echogenicity, laterality , and the presence of vascular invasion mere evaluated. Histopathologi c diagnoses were obtained in all dogs, Adrenal lesions were confirmed as pheochromocytomas (9), adenocarcinomas (6), a poorly differentiated blastoma (1), bilateral adrenal metastases of a carcinoma (1), adenom as-one of which was bilateral-(4) and hyperplasia (6), Size and shape mere extremely variable and not specific to lesion type. There was a t endency for pheochromocytomas (7), adenocarcinomas (5) and poorly diff erentiated blastoma (1) to be rounded masses, Adenomas (4), hyperplasi a (7) and adrenal metastases (2) presented predominantly as nodules. N o specificity in echogenicity was noted, Mineralization and bilaterali ty were present in both benign and malignant lesions, Vascular extensi on or the presence of a thrombus were suggestive but not specific sign s of malignancy, Based on our preliminary study, ultrasonography is an effective method for localizing adrenal lesions and is helpful in ass essing their extension. However, no definitive differentiation between benign and malignant lesions was possible using ultrasonographic crit eria alone.