Malignant pheochromocytoma in a dog – case report

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine secreting tumor that may be difficult to diagnose because clinical signs are not always present due to the episodic secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. We report a case of pheochromocytoma in an asymptomatic 9-year-old intact male maltese. The adrenal mass was an incidental finding during an abdominal ultrasonographic exam. Surgical treatment was declined by the owner. Eight months later the animal was presented with neoplastic thrombus in the caudal vena cava, and was submitted to adrenalectomy with venotomy and thrombectomy. The histopathological exam confirmed the diagnosis and surgical treatment of adrenal tumors, including cases of incidental finding in asymptomatic animals is emphasized here. Currently, five years after surgery, the dog is stable, healthy and without recurrence or evidences of tumor metastasis.