From:
jviviano3@comcast.net
Date: 2004-09-04 10:55:50 UTC
Subject: Adrenal histopath: inflammation
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8351183.1094295350439.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My ferret recently had an adrenalectomy. He was showing behavioral aggress=
ion toward cagemates that he had previously gotton on well with, and ultras=
ound revealed an enlarged left adrenal gland (couldn't find the right). He=
didn't show any other signs of adrenal disease (hair loss, etc.) I opted =
for surgery, hoping that it would help with his behavior, and even if not, =
knowing at least that I would be catching his adrenal disease early on. Th=
e vet removed the left, which he saw upon surgery to be enlarged, and cryo'=
d the right, which he described as misshapen, not necessarily enlarged. Ho=
wever, the histopath results of his left adrenal gland revealed only inflam=
mation of the cells; no hyperplasia. The vet explained that inflammation a=
lone would not cause the overproduction of hormones that we are familiar wi=
th in adrenal disease. My questions: 1. Was I too aggressive in chosing =
surgery given the circumstances? 2. Could inflammation be a "precursor" t=
o hyperplasia in adrenal glands? 3. What are the possible causes inflamma=
tion in an adrenal gland? 4. Is prednisone enough considering he is a bil=
ateral? FYI, there isn't any change in his behavior. Thank you in advance=
for any thoughts you may have.
Jen =
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