Diagnosis of pharyngeal disorders in dogs: a retrospective study of 67 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency distribution of pharyngeal disorders and to compare clinical signs in diseases of the different pharyngeal areas. To review the investigation methods.


METHODS
Medical records of 67 dogs presenting with abnormalities of the pharyngeal area were retrospectively reviewed and classified according to the anatomic area involved, i.e. the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal areas. Clinical signs, endoscopic findings and results of additional sampling were reviewed.


RESULTS
Nasopharyngeal disorders were most frequently encountered (49 per cent), with choanal masses being the most frequent diagnosis (24 of 33), followed by laryngopharyngeal disorders (37.5 per cent) and oropharyngeal disorders (10.5 per cent). A rare condition, stenosis of the intrapharyngeal opening, was classified separately (3 per cent). An overall good correlation between matched cytology and histopathology samples was found. In all categories of diseases, clinical signs related to both the upper respiratory and digestive tracts were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharyngeal disorders are more frequently localised in the nasopharyngeal area and include essentially choanal masses. The use of a flexible endoscope for retrograde rhinoscopy is essential for adequate investigation of the proximal nasopharyngeal area. Clinical signs do not allow differentiation of the pharyngeal disorder within the different pharyngeal areas.
Billen
F
F
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Bld de Colonster 20 B44, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
Day
M J
MJ
Clercx
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies