Changes

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Gross lesions will include bilaterally symmetrical alopecia beginning over the tailhead and progressing cranially over the flanks and abdomen. The presence of an enlarged vulva in a spayed female is also strongly suggestive of AAE. The normal length of ferret adrenal glands is 3-5mm. Glands exceeding 5mm will often contain proliferative lesions. Approximately 45% of these will be carcinoms, 45% will be hyperplasia and 10% adenomas. Diameters exceeding 1cm is highly suggestive of adrenocortical carcinoma. In cases of adrenal malignancy, metastasis often occurs late in the course of the disease and ferrets are more likely to die from vascular haemorrhage as a result of tumor necrosis in a large adrenal malignancy rather than as a result of metastatic disease. Microscopic lesions will include proliferative lesions within the adrenal cortex that can be catagorised into three stages; hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma. The presence of necrosis, cellular atypia and a high mitotic rate are suggestive of malignancy. The presence of a single nodule within the adrenal cortex without any other factors associated with cancer may indicate adenoma. The presence of multiple nodules without any other factors associated with cancer may indicate cortical hyperplasia.  

Gross lesions will include bilaterally symmetrical alopecia beginning over the tailhead and progressing cranially over the flanks and abdomen. The presence of an enlarged vulva in a spayed female is also strongly suggestive of AAE. The normal length of ferret adrenal glands is 3-5mm. Glands exceeding 5mm will often contain proliferative lesions. Approximately 45% of these will be carcinomas, 45% will be hyperplasia and 10% adenomas. Diameters exceeding 1cm is highly suggestive of adrenocortical carcinoma. In cases of adrenal malignancy, metastasis often occurs late in the course of the disease and ferrets are more likely to die from vascular haemorrhage as a result of tumor necrosis in a large adrenal malignancy rather than as a result of metastatic disease. Microscopic lesions will include proliferative lesions within the adrenal cortex that can be catagorised into three stages; hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma. The presence of necrosis, cellular atypia and a high mitotic rate are suggestive of malignancy. The presence of a single nodule within the adrenal cortex without any other factors associated with cancer may indicate adenoma. The presence of multiple nodules without any other factors associated with cancer may indicate cortical hyperplasia.  

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