Severe pulmonary mineralization in a dog with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism: A case report

A 7-year-old, spayed female Chihuahua with dyspnea, intermittent cyanosis, and dermal plaques was diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism. Thoracic radiographs showed markedly hyperdense alveoli in multiple lung lobes. Computed tomography (CT) images showed lung mineralization confined to the lung parenchyma and pituitary macroadenoma. Pulmonary mineralization secondary to hyperadrenocorticism is commonly found on histopathologic examination. However, those lesions are rarely identified radiographically. We describe obvious pulmonary mineralization secondary to hyperadrenocorticism found on radiographs and present the first report regarding CT imaging of the mineralization. Pulmonary mineralization should be considered when a dog affected by hyperadrenocorticism shows diffuse lung mineralization on radiographs.