Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in a cat with a functional parathyroid adenocarcinoma

A 9-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat with dysuria, anorexia, vomiting, and lethargy was admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital. A large, firm mass was palpable in the ventral cervical region. Hypercalcemia, azotemia, and nonregenerative anemia were evident on serum biochemical analysis and CBC, and multiple uroliths were detected by abdominal radiography. At necropsy, light microscopy of the ventral cervical mass revealed a parathyroid adenocarcinoma. Light microscopy of sections of the kidneys revealed multifocal, chronic, lymphocytic/plasmacytic, tubulointerstitial nephritis, as well as moderate multifocal acute tubular necrosis. On quantitative analysis, the uroliths were composed of calcium oxalate. Determination of serum calcium concentration is indicated in cats with calcium oxalate urolithiasis to aid in detection of primary hyperparathyroidism.