ULTRASONOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ADRENAL-GLANDS IN DOGS WITH PITUITARY-DEPENDENT HYPERADRENOCORTICISM - COMPARISON WITH NORMAL DOGS

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the adrenal glands was performed in 10 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) and in 10 age - and weight-matched healthy control dogs. Thickness, shape, and echog enicity were determined for each adrenal gland. Adrenal thickness in d ogs with PDH (median, 10 mm-left; 8.5 mm-right) was significantly grea ter than thickness in control dogs (median, 6 mm-left; 6 mm-right). Ot her ultrasonographic characteristics associated with PDH included bila terally symmetrical adrenomegaly and maintenance of normal adrenal sha pe. Adrenal echogenicity was homogeneous and less than that of the adj acent renal cortex in 8 of 10 dogs with PDH and in 10 of 10 control do gs, Heterogenous echogenicity was present in 2 of 10 dogs with PDH, an d was associated with nodular cortical hyperplasia in one of those dog s. Results of this study confirm the difference in sonographic appeara nce between PDH-induced bilateral cortical hyperplasia and functional adrenocortical neoplasia, and show a difference in sonographically det ermined adrenal size between healthy dogs and dogs with PDH. J Vet Int ern Med 1996;10:110-115. Copyright (C) 1996 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.