Concurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Hemosiderosis in a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)

A 15-year-old intact female sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) presented for a 3-day history of diarrhea and weight loss despite an excellent appetite. Upon physical examination under manual restraint, the animal was determined to be emaciated with a palpable l cm diameter, firm, and irregular abdominal mass. Following 72 hours of supportive and palliative treatment (including oral antibiotics and glucocorticoids) with no clinical response, the owner elected euthanasia and approved antemortem diagnostics for teaching purposes. A complete blood count revealed a moderate regenerative anemia, mild leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. A significant number of sideroleukocytes were noted upon examination of a blood smear, along with platelet clumps. Plasma biochemical analysis showed moderate hypoproteinemia, moderate hypoalbuminemia, mild hypokalemia, and elevated total bilirubin. Mild hypernatremia and hyperchloremia were also present. An abdominal ultrasound confirmed the presence of a large hypoechoic abdominal mass, which appeared to be associated with the liver. Whole-body radiographs did not assist in reaching an antemortem diagnosis because of poor abdominal serosal detail secondary to severe emaciation. Postmortem examination and histopathology provided a definitive diagnosis of concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and adrenocortical carcinoma with no evidence of metastases. Hemosiderin pigment accumulation was noted within macrophages and hepatocytes.