Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy as a treatment for Rathke's cleft cyst in a dog

The objective of the study was to describe the clinical, imaging, surgical and histological findings in a dog with Rathke's cleft cyst of the pituitary gland. A 6-year-old, female, neutered Staffordshire bull terrier was presented with an acute onset of abnormal behaviour. Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull showed a pituitary mass of 12.9 mm (height) x 8.8 mm (width) x 10.2 mm (length) with a pituitary height/brain area value of 0.73 (reference <0.31). Magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of pituitary apoplexy or neoplasia. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed and a cystic mass was removed. Histopathology revealed a Rathke's cleft cyst lined by a layer of pseudo-stratified ciliated columnar epithelial cells and mucin-secreting goblet cells with remnant pituitary tissue with positive immunostaining against adrenocorticotropic hormone, alpha melanocyte and growth hormone in the periphery. Rathke's cleft cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of pituitary masses in the dog, and transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment.

Automated summary

This study describes the clinical, imaging, surgical, and histopathological findings of a dog with Rathke's cleft cyst of the pituitary gland. The case presented with an acute onset of abnormal behavior, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary mass. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed, and histopathology confirmed the presence of Rathke's cleft cyst. This study emphasizes the importance of considering Rathke's cleft cyst in the differential diagnosis of pituitary masses in dogs.