Canine phaeochromocytoma: diagnosis and surgical management

Abstract

Although pheochromocytomas are uncommon in dogs, awareness of this type of adrenal tumour is important because of the life-threatening consequences related to their functionality. Pheochromocytomas may periodically produce catecholamines, accounting for many of the intermittent clinical signs seen, the inconsistent nature of which can make pheochromocytomas challenging to diagnose. The treatment of choice is surgical excision and optimal outcome relies on careful perioperative medical management to decrease the anaesthetic risk associated with paroxysmal release of catecholamines during surgical manipulation. Both surgical and anaesthetic management can be extremely challenging in cases of pheochromocytoma. However, in cases in which metastasis has not occurred, good survival times are achievable.