; , Journal oJZoo and Wildlife Medicine 26(2): 293-297, 1995 Copyright 1995 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians A CASE OF CYSTIC ADRENAL DISEASE IN A COMMON DOLPHIN (DELPHINUS DELPHIS) R. E. Cartee, D.V.M., M.S., Raymond Tarpley, D.V.M., Ph.D., Kerry Mahoney, D.V.M., S. H. Ridgway, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Pamela L. Johnson, B.S. Abstract .: Bilateral adrenal cysts were discovered in a common dolphin during a routine necropsy. The dolphIn appeared to be a mature female with immature reproductive structures. The adrenals were removed, scanned uitrasonographically, sectioned, and stained. The occurrence of adrenal cysts in humans and other animals are reviewed. Key words: Dolphin , De/phinus de/phis, adrenal gland, cysts, ultrasonography. INTRODUCTION The adrenal gland of cetaceans has been reported to be similar to that of other spe- cies except for the presence of more con- nective tissue, which creates the appearance of lobulation. 6 .'6 The reported pathologic conditions of the adrenal gland of cetaceans include focal inflammatory cell infiltrations, teratomas , carcinomas, and nodular abnor- mali ties. 3,16 Adrenal epi thelial cystic disease in a Chinese river dolphin has been report- ed. 'o Adrenal cysts occur infrequently in all species, but bilateral adrenal cysts in hu- mans are rare. IS Prior to the use of ultra- sound, computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), adrenal cysts in humans were typically incidental findings at autopsy. 1,2,4,5, 7-9,1 1-1 5, 17 -19 In the last 10-12 yr, adrenal cysts have been more readily and commonly diagnosed and treat- ed. A variety of adrenal cysts have been identified based on etiology, including one reported bacterial pseudocyst. II In tha t case, the patient presented with a septicemia, and cultures revealed Staphylococcus aureus; the From the Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA (Cartee, Johnson); the Depart- ment of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health, Col- lege of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA (Tarpley); the De- partment of Health Services, County Veterinary Of- fices , San Diego, California 92123, USA (Mahoney); and NRaD, NCCOSC RDT&E Division, Biological Sciences, Code 514, San Diego, California 92152-5000, USA (Ridgway). cyst was removed after antibiotic therapy. Both hemorrhage into an adrenal cyst and retroperitoneal hemorrhage resulting from a ruptured adrenal cyst have been docu- mented, 9, '4 One case report indicated an ad- renal cyst in association with renal adeno- carcinoma,7 Another researcher concluded that in some cases adrenal cysts are asso- ciated with hypertension. 5 MRI is com- monly used in the diagnosis of adrenal cysts in humans. 15 In one report involving two patients, MRI was utilized to differentiate a lymphangiomatous cyst from an adrenal cyst. 8 In both cases, the cysts were inciden- tally discovered by CT. In a similar case, a large abdominal mass in a woman was iden- tified through CT and radiography as a lym- phangiomatous cyst. 17 One author has sug- gested that the only clinically significant ad- renal cysts are hematomas resulting from hemorrhage within the lesion. '2 Such le- sions appear to have degenerative posthe- morrhagic changes. No information was found to indicate the prevalence of adrenal cysts in humans nor the percentage of those that are of clinical importance. CASE REPORT A mature female common dolphin (Del- phinus delphis) , 181.6 cm long and 68 kg, was stranded at Malibu Beach, California. The dead animal was delivered to Sea World, San Diego, where a necropsy was performed. In addition to parasitic enteritis, the ovaries and uterus appeared small and undeveloped and both adrenal glands con- 293