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1 September 2011 Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Andrea L Goodnight, Sharon D Gottfried, Karen Emanuelson
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

An 18-yr-old male bobcat (Lynx rufus) presented with chronic moderate weight loss and acute onset of anorexia and lethargy. Hypercalcemia and azotemia were present on the serum chemistry panel. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hyperechoic renal cortices, but no evidence of neoplasia. Ionized calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were mildly elevated, intact parathyroid hormone was severely elevated, and parathormone-related protein was undetected, suggesting primary hyperparathyroidism with possible renal dysfunction. Azotemia lessened in severity following diuresis, but hypercalcemia persisted; thus primary hyperparathyroidism was considered the most probable differential diagnosis. A second ultrasound including the cervical region revealed a solitary intraparenchymal left thyroid nodule. The nodule was surgically excised; histopathology confirmed a parathyroid adenoma. Although primary hyperparathyroidism was suspected, diagnosis was not achieved from serum chemistry values alone. This case emphasizes the importance of diagnostic imaging and histopathology in the investigation of persistently abnormal laboratory values.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Andrea L Goodnight, Sharon D Gottfried, and Karen Emanuelson "Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a Bobcat (Lynx rufus)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 42(3), 490-494, (1 September 2011). https://doi.org/10.1638/2010-0117.1
Received: 5 July 2010; Published: 1 September 2011
KEYWORDS
bobcat
hypercalcemia
hyperparathyroidism
Lynx rufus
parathyroid
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