RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CATS WITH INTRANASAL NEOPLASIA OR CHRONIC RHINITIS - 29 CASES (1982-1988)

Objective-To compare radiographic findings and determine useful criter ia to differentiate between intranasal neoplasia and chronic rhinitis in cats. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-Cats with chronic nasal d isease caused by neoplasia (n = 18) or by chronic rhinitis (n = 11). P rocedure-Radiographs were reviewed by 3 radiologists, followed by grou p review. Diagnosis was determined by intranasal biopsy or necropsy, a nd specimens were reviewed by a pathologist to confirm cause and histo logic diagnosis. Results-Lymphosarcoma was the most common (n = 5) of the 6 histopathologic types in the neoplasia group. Cats in the neopla sia and chronic rhinitis groups had a high prevalence of aggressive ra diographic 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 sep tum was similar. However, significantly (P = 0.02) more cats with neop lasia than with chronic rhinitis (13/16 vs 3/7, respectively) had unil ateral turbinate destruction/lysis. Additionally, unilateral lateral b one erosion and loss of teeth associated with adjacent intranasal dise ase were more prevalent in cats with neoplasia (7/8 and 5/18, respecti vely) than in cats with chronic rhinitis (1/3 and 0/11, respectively). Clinical Implications-features that may assist in radiographic diagno sis of neoplasia include the appearance of unilateral aggressive lesio ns, such as lysis of lateral bones, nasal turbinate destruction, and l oss of teeth. Bilaterally symmetric lesions are more suggestive of chr onic rhinitis than of neoplasia.