Computed Tomography Volumetric Measurements of Adrenal Glands in 26 Dogs Under One Year of Age: A Retrospective Study

Limited data exist regarding the size and volume of adrenal glands in puppies; therefore, the present research aims to describe volumetric and traditional measurements of adrenal glands in computed tomography (CT) images of 26 dogs under 1 year of age. Using OsiriX®MD v9.0.1, the adrenal volume as well as adrenal length, and the height and width of the cranial and caudal poles were documented. The results were compared with groups based on age, weight at the time of examination, and the dogs’ adult size when patients were clinically re-evaluated after more than 12 months of age. The mean adrenal gland volumes were 0.50 cm3 for the left (range 0.08–1.29 cm3) and 0.41 cm3 for the right (range 0.03–1.10 cm3) adrenal gland. The results showed that older puppies had larger adrenal glands, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The volume of the adrenal glands correlated positively with body weight and the patients’ adult size. The findings highlight the diagnostic potential of CT-based adrenal volumetry and two-dimensional measurements and support their use in refining reference values for young dogs. The strong correlation between adrenal size and body weight emphasizes the importance of weight-adjusted interpretation in clinical settings.