Retrospective review of the ultrasonographic features of adrenal lesions in 21 ferrets

A review of ultrasonographic findings in 21 ferrets with confirmed adrenal lesions was performed, Clinical signs and follow-up information were record ed. Histopathologic diagnoses were obtained for 25 adrenal glands in 21 fer rets, Adrenal lesions included ten adenocarcinomas, nine adenomas, one hype rplasia and one cortical cyst, Four adrenal glands (all right-sided) were d iagnosed as unspecified adrenal tumors but lacked a definite histopathologi c diagnosis (adenoma vs, adenocarcinoma) due to incomplete surgical resecti on and consequent small sample sizes, Bilateral adrenal lesions were identi fied in 4 ferrets (19%). Adrenal shape, size, echogenicity, laterality, and the presence of vascular invasion were evaluated with ultrasound, Size and shape were variable and not specific to lesion type. both benign and malig nant adrenal tumors (adenomas, adenocarcinomas) appeared most often as mass es with increased thickness and a normal length (11/23), less frequently as larger masses with increased thickness and length (4/23) or as nodules foc ally deforming the normal adrenal shape (6/23), The only cortical cyst appe ared as a nodule, Three adrenal glands had a normal size and shape and were diagnosed as adenomas (2) or hyperplasia (1). Therefore treatment may be w arranted based solely on clinical signs if adrenal glands are ultrasonograp hically normal. Vascular invasion was not identified ultrasonographically. However, focal absence of periglandular fat resulting in contact of 8 adren al glands with either caudal vena cava (6), aorta (1) or liver (1) identifi ed ultrasonographically, correlated with incomplete surgical resectability (6/8) and histopathologic diagnoses of carcinoma (4/8) or unspecified tumor s (4/8), Therefore, a focal absence of periglandular fat between the adrena l gland and the large vessels or liver, deviation or compression of the lar ge vessels by the adrenal lesion may indicate malignancy, Adrenal tumors (b enign and malignant) were often associated with a prominent uterus, uterine stump or prostate with or without prostatic cysts.