Osteopenia and other radiographic signs in canine hyperadrenocorticism

The specificity of conventional radiography in assessing canine hyperadreno corticism was evaluated by comparing the incidence of related radiographic findings in 24-hyperadrenocorticoid, 15 diabetic and 20 hypothyroid dogs. H yperaduenocorticoid dogs showed significantly more perihilar bronchial mine ralisation than other groups. There was no significant variation between th e disease groups with respect to obesity, hepatomegaly, contour of the caud oventral hepatic margin, peripheral bronchial mineralisation or osteopenia. Adrenal mineralisation and calcinosis cutis were rare findings observed on ly in hyperadrenocorticoid dogs. The effect of obesity on the radiographic appearance of bone was studied using a dissected lumbar spine from a canine cadaver. An osteopenic effect could be demonstrated by superimposition of a 10 cm-thick fat block. The low specificity of almost all common signs in canine hyperadrenocorticism and the low incidence of characteristic finding s demonstrate the limited potential of radiography in assessing this condit ion. Radiographic assessment of bone density is unreliable because of artef actual osteopenic effects of high kVp settings necessary in obese dogs.