A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Survival in 255 Dogs With Pheochromocytoma Treated With Alpha-Adrenoreceptor Antagonists or Surgery (2010-2021). - 2025
A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Survival in 255 Dogs With Pheochromocytoma Treated With Alpha-Adrenoreceptor Antagonists or Surgery (2010-2021).
Steele, Matthew M E; van den Berg, Marit F; Galac, Saraet al.
2025 • In Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 39 (5), p. 70220
[en] [en] BACKGROUND: The survival of dogs with pheochromocytoma (PCC) treated with adrenoreceptor antagonists has not been described or compared to surgically managed cases.
HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the survival of medically and surgically managed dogs with PCC and investigate factors associated with survival.
ANIMALS: Two hundred fifty-five dogs with PCC, treated with alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists (AA) without adrenalectomy (Group 1, n = 75), adrenalectomy +/- AA (Group 2, n = 128), or neither treatment (Group 3, n = 52).
METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter review of medical records. Median overall survival time (OST) for Groups 1 and 2 combined was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and then compared between Group 1 and Group 2 using Log-Rank testing. Cox proportional hazard analysis identified factors associated with survival in Groups 1 and 2 individually and combined.
RESULTS: Median OST for all cases was 854 (95% CI: 572-1136) days. Median OST was lower in Group 1 (247 days, 95% CI: 76-418 days) than in Group 2 (927 days, 95% CI: 587-1267 days; p < 0.001). In Group 2, 88/92 dogs (97.8%) that received presurgical AA treatment survived to discharge compared to 23/27 (85.2%) that did not receive AA pretreatment (p = 0.03). Lack of clinical signs at presentation was associated with increased survival in both groups combined (HR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9; p = 0.02) and in Group 2 alone (HR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.7; p = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with PCC treated with adrenalectomy have longer survival compared to those managed with AA without adrenalectomy.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Steele, Matthew M E ; ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists, Chester, UK ; Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
van den Berg, Marit F ; Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Galac, Sara ; Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Dordio, Ana M; Davies Veterinary Specialists, Hitchin, UK
Threlfall, Anna; Davies Veterinary Specialists, Hitchin, UK
Gomes, Cláudia; Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK ; The Queens Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Paul, Amanda; Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK ; Hamilton Specialist Referrals, Wycombe, UK
Nolff, Mirja; Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Sieber-Ruckstuhl, Nadja ; Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Benchekroun, Ghita ; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, CHUVA, Unité de Médecine Interne, Maisons-Alfort, France
Allerton, Fergus; Willows Veterinary Specialists, Shirley, UK
Mendoza, Beatriz; North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, UK
Spence, Susanna; North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, UK ; London Vet Specialists, London, UK
Valiente, Paula; North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, UK ; Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Hong Kong, Kowloon, People's Republic of China
Boag, Alisdair ; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Fracassi, Federico ; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Carranza Valencia, Alejandra ; Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Pena-Ramos, Jorge ; Small Animal Referral Hospital, Langford Vets, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Lloyd-Bradley, Ben; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK ; Dick White Referrals, Cambridge, UK
Seth, Mayank; Dick White Referrals, Cambridge, UK ; Stansted Veterinary Specialists, Bishop's Stortford, UK
Fawsitt, Jack; The Queens Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Yu Foo, Fang; Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK ; The Queens Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Heilmann, Romy M ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Silverstrini, Paolo ; Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK ; Ryan Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Lyssens, Aurélie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Médecine vétérinaire comparée
Vangrinsven, Emilie; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Casas-Acuna, Clara; Pride Veterinary Referrals, Derby, UK
Hrovat, Alenka; Pride Veterinary Referrals, Derby, UK
Mooney, Carmel T; University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Leal, Rodolfo O ; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health/Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Piekos, Karolina Maria; Eastcott Veterinary Referrals, Swindon, UK
Olivares, Gerard; Eastcott Veterinary Referrals, Swindon, UK
Ruiz, Guillame; Bristol Vet Specialists, Bristol, UK
Caulfield, Sarah J; Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK ; Lumbray Park Veterinary Specialists, Alton, UK
Keyte, Sophie; Lumbray Park Veterinary Specialists, Alton, UK
Lamoureux, Anaïs ; Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Anicura Nordvet, La Madeleine, France
Scudder, Christopher J; Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
Gostelow, Ruth ; Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Survival in 255 Dogs With Pheochromocytoma Treated With Alpha-Adrenoreceptor Antagonists or Surgery (2010-2021).
S. D. Gilson, S. J. Withrow, S. L. Wheeler, and D. C. Twedt, “Pheochromocytoma in 50 Dogs,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 8, no. 3 (1994): 228–232.
P. Y. Barthez, S. L. Marks, J. Woo, E. C. Feldman, and M. Matteucci, “Pheochromocytoma in Dogs: 61 Cases (1984–1995),” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 11, no. 5 (1997): 272–278.
S. Galac and E. Korpershoek, “Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas in Humans and Dogs,” Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 15, no. 4 (2017): 1158–1170.
M. F. van den Berg and S. Galac, “Canine Phaeochromocytoma: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment,” Companion Animal 29, no. 1 (2024): 2–10.
E. Zini, “Chapter 298: Pheochromocytoma,” in Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 9th ed., ed. E. Côté, S. J. Ettinger, and E. C. Feldman (Elsevier, 2024), 2050–2056.
R. Gostelow, N. Bridger, and H. M. Syme, “Plasma-Free Metanephrine and Free Normetanephrine Measurement for the Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma in Dogs,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 27 (2013): 83–90.
M. F. van den Berg, H. S. Kooistra, G. C. M. Grinwis, et al., “Reference Intervals for Plasma, Urinary, and Salivary Concentrations of Free Metanephrines in Dogs: Relevance to the Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 37, no. 1 (2023): 173–183.
S. Quante, F. S. Boretti, P. H. Kook, et al., “Urinary Catecholamine and Metanephrine to Creatinine Ratios in Dogs With Hyperadrenocorticism or Pheochromocytoma, and in Healthy Dogs,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 24, no. 5 (2010): 1093–1097.
P. H. Kook, P. Grest, S. Quante, F. S. Boretti, and C. E. Reusch, “Urinary Catecholamine and Metadrenaline to Creatinine Ratios in Dogs With a Phaeochromocytoma,” Veterinary Record 166, no. 6 (2010): 169–174.
E. Salesov, F. S. Boretti, N. S. Sieber-Ruckstuhl, et al., “Urinary and Plasma Catecholamines and Metanephrines in Dogs With Pheochromocytoma, Hypercortisolism, Nonadrenal Disease and in Healthy Dogs,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 29, no. 2 (2015): 597–602.
P. H. Kook, F. S. Boretti, M. Hersberger, T. M. Glaus, and C. E. Reusch, “Urinary Catecholamine and Metanephrine to Creatinine Ratios in Healthy Dogs at Home and in a Hospital Environment and in 2 Dogs With Pheochromocytoma,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 21, no. 3 (2007): 388–393.
J. I. Baum, S. E. Boston, and J. B. Case, “Prevalence of Adrenal Gland Masses as Incidental Findings During Abdominal Computed Tomography in Dogs: 270 Cases (2013–2014),” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 249, no. 10 (2016): 1165–1169.
G. Hayes, “Update on Adrenalectomy,” Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice 52, no. 2 (2022): 473–487.
M. L. Musser, K. L. Taikowski, C. M. Johannes, and P. J. Bergman, “Retrospective Evaluation of Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia®) Use in the Treatment of Inoperable, Metastatic, or Recurrent Canine Pheochromocytomas: 5 Dogs (2014–2017),” BMC Veterinary Research 14, no. 1 (2018): 272.
T. Linder, C. Wakamatsu, J. Jacovino, Y. H. Hsieh, and M. Mueller, “Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy as an Alternative to Adrenalectomy for the Treatment of Pheochromocytomas in 8 Dogs,” Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 21, no. 1 (2022): 45–53.
D. A. Bommarito, J. C. Lattimer, K. A. Selting, C. J. Henry, M. Cohen, and G. C. Johnson, “Treatment of a Malignant Pheochromocytoma in a Dog Using 131I Metaiodobenzylguanidine,” Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 47, no. 6 (2011): e188–e194.
M. A. Herrera, M. L. Mehl, P. H. Kass, P. J. Pascoe, E. C. Feldman, and R. W. Nelson, “Predictive Factors and the Effect of Phenoxybenzamine on Outcome in Dogs Undergoing Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 22, no. 6 (2008): 1333–1339.
D. Enright, V. M. Dickerson, J. A. Grimes, S. Townsend, and K. M. Thieman Mankin, “Short- and Long-Term Survival After Adrenalectomy in 53 Dogs With Pheochromocytomas With or Without Alpha-Blocker Therapy,” Veterinary Surgery 51, no. 3 (2022): 438–446.
C. Appelgrein, G. Hosgood, E. Drynan, and A. Nesbitt, “Short-Term Outcome of Adrenalectomy in Dogs With Adrenal Gland Tumours That Did Not Receive Pre-Operative Medical Management,” Australian Veterinary Journal 98, no. 9 (2020): 449–454.
H. J. Piegols, B. E. Abrams, J. M. Lapsley, et al., “Risk Factors Influencing Death Prior to Discharge in 302 Dogs Undergoing Unilateral Adrenalectomy for Treatment of Primary Adrenal Gland Tumours,” Veterinary and Comparative Oncology 21, no. 4 (2023): 673–684.
G. S. Fontes, H. J. Piegols, J. M. Lapsley, S. Bracha, and L. E. Selmic, “Outcome in Dogs With Invasive Adrenal Gland Tumors That Did Not Pursue Adrenalectomy,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 262, no. 7 (2024): 1–5.
A. Bugbee, R. Rucinsky, S. Cazabon, et al., “2023 AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines,” Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 59, no. 3 (2023): 113–135.
M. J. Acierno, S. Brown, A. E. Coleman, et al., “ACVIM Consensus Statement: Guidelines for the Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Systemic Hypertension in Dogs and Cats,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 32, no. 6 (2018): 1803–1822.
C. Arenas, D. Pérez-Alenza, and C. Melián, “Clinical Features, Outcome and Prognostic Factors in Dogs Diagnosed With Non-Cortisol-Secreting Adrenal Tumours Without Adrenalectomy: 20 Cases (1994–2009),” Veterinary Record 173, no. 20 (2013): 501.
R. E. Jepson, “Hypertension and Adrenal Gland Disease,” in Hypertension in the Dog and Cat, ed. J. Elliot, H. M. Syme, and R. E. Jepson (Springer International Publishing, 2020), 101–129.
S. L. Santiago, L. M. Freeman, and J. E. Rush, “Cardiac Cachexia in Cats With Congestive Heart Failure: Prevalence and Clinical, Laboratory, and Survival Findings,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34, no. 1 (2020): 35–44.
D. L. Ineson, L. M. Freeman, and J. E. Rush, “Clinical and Laboratory Findings and Survival Time Associated With Cardiac Cachexia in Dogs With Congestive Heart Failure,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 33, no. 5 (2019): 1902–1908.
K. F. Mallery, L. M. Freeman, N. K. Harpster, and J. E. Rush, “Factors Contributing to the Decision for Euthanasia of Dogs With Congestive Heart Failure,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 214, no. 8 (1999): 1201–1204.
V. J. Parker and L. M. Freeman, “Association Between Body Condition and Survival in Dogs With Acquired Chronic Kidney Disease,” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 25, no. 6 (2011): 1306–1311.
K. A. Pitt, P. D. Mayhew, M. A. Steffey, et al., “Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Removal of Unilateral Noninvasive Pheochromocytomas in 10 Dogs,” Veterinary Surgery 45, no. S1 (2016): O70–O76.
F. Massari, S. Nicoli, G. Romanelli, P. Buracco, and E. Zini, “Adrenalectomy in Dogs With Adrenal Gland Tumors: 52 Cases (2002–2008),” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 239, no. 2 (2011): 216–221.
K. L. van Bokhorst, S. Galac, H. S. Kooistra, et al., “Laparoscopic vs. Open Adrenalectomy: Perioperative Data and Survival Analysis in 70 Dogs With an Adrenal Tumor,” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10 (2023): 1156801.
P. D. Mayhew, S. E. Boston, A. L. Zwingenberger, et al., “Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality in Dogs With Invasive Adrenal Neoplasms Treated by Adrenalectomy and Cavotomy,” Veterinary Surgery 48, no. 5 (2019): 742–750.
J. S. Barrera, F. Bernard, E. J. Ehrhart, S. J. Withrow, and E. Monnet, “Evaluation of Risk Factors for Outcome Associated With Adrenal Gland Tumors With or Without Invasion of the Caudal Vena Cava and Treated via Adrenalectomy in Dogs: 86 Cases (1993–2009),” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 242, no. 12 (2013): 1715–1721.
C. Willette, G. Bini, M. Traverson, et al., “Retrospective Evaluation of the Influence of Phenoxybenzamine Pretreatment on Intraoperative Cardiovascular Variables in Dogs With Pheochromocytoma,” Canadian Veterinary Journal 65, no. 12 (2024): 1293–1301.
J. M. Lang, E. Schertel, S. Kennedy, D. Wilson, M. Barnhart, and B. Danielson, “Elective and Emergency Surgical Management of Adrenal Gland Tumors: 60 Cases (1999–2006),” Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 47, no. 6 (2011): 428–435.
M. Traverson, J. Zheng, G. Tremolada, et al., “Adrenal Tumors Treated by Adrenalectomy Following Spontaneous Rupture Carry an Overall Favorable Prognosis: Retrospective Evaluation of Outcomes in 59 Dogs and 3 Cats (2000–2021),” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 261, no. 12 (2023): 1–9.
G. Eisenhofer, C. Pamporaki, and J. W. M. Lenders, “Biochemical Assessment of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma,” Endocrine Reviews 44, no. 5 (2023): 862–909.