Radiographic findings in cats with intranasal neoplasia or chronic rhinitis: 29 cases (1982-1988).
OBJECTIVE
To compare radiographic findings and determine useful criteria to differentiate between intranasal neoplasia and chronic rhinitis in cats.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Cats with chronic nasal disease caused by neoplasia (n = 18) or by chronic rhinitis (n = 11).


METHODS
Radiographs were reviewed by 3 radiologists, followed by group review. Diagnosis was determined by intranasal biopsy or necropsy, and specimens were reviewed by a pathologist to confirm cause and histologic diagnosis.


RESULTS
Lymphosarcoma was the most common (n = 5) of the 6 histopathologic types in the neoplasia group. Cats in the neoplasia and chronic rhinitis groups had a high prevalence of aggressive radiographic lesions. Prevalence of a facial mass in cats with neoplasia (8/18) versus in those with chronic rhinitis (4/11) and of deviation (9/18 vs 6/11, respectively) or lysis (12/18 vs 7/11) of the nasal septum was similar. However, significantly (P = 0.02) more cats with neoplasia than with chronic rhinitis (13/16 vs 3/7, respectively) had unilateral turbinate destruction/lysis. Additionally, unilateral lateral bone erosion and loss of teeth associated with adjacent intranasal disease were more prevalent in cats with neoplasia (7/8 and 5/18, respectively) than in cats with chronic rhinitis (1/3 and 0/11, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Features that may assist in radiographic diagnosis of neoplasia include the appearance of unilateral aggressive lesions, such as lysis of lateral bones, nasal turbinate destruction, and loss of teeth. Bilaterally symmetric lesions are more suggestive of chronic rhinitis than of neoplasia.
O'Brien
R T
RT
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706-1102, USA.
Evans
S M
SM
Wortman
J A
JA
Hendrick
M J
MJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology