Calcified mass attached to mitral valve chordae tendineae in a dog with hyperadrenocorticism: A case report

TL;DR

A dog with a hormone disorder had a rare heart condition involving a calcified mass on heart valves, which was surgically removed but led to complications.

Contribution

This case report documents a rare instance of dystrophic calcification in a dog with hyperadrenocorticism and mitral valve disease.

Findings

Echocardiography revealed severe mitral valve thickening and a calcified mass on chordae tendineae.

Histopathology confirmed the mass was non-neoplastic calcified tissue.

Computed tomography showed widespread systemic calcification in the dog.

Abstract

Dystrophic calcification affecting cardiac structures secondary to hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is rare in dogs. This case report describes the clinical, imaging, surgical, and pathological findings of a 9-year-old spayed female Maltese dog with severe mitral regurgitation and HAC-related systemic calcification presenting as an intracardiac calcified mass.

Severe mitral valve thickening and a mobile hyperechoic mass attached to the chordae tendineae were detected on echocardiography. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed, and the calcified mass was excised. Histopathology confirmed a non-neoplastic calcified lesion. Computed tomography revealed extensive calcification in various tissues. The dog developed postoperative aspiration pneumonia and died on postoperative day 2.

This case highlights the potential for intracardiac dystrophic calcification in dogs with HAC and severe mitral valve disease.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-025-05172-2.

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