INTRANASAL TUMORS IN DOGS - DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Intranasal tumors are rare in dogs and occur mostly in middle-aged and old dogs. The malignant behavior of these tumors is reflected more by their tendency to invade local tissue than by a tendency to produce d istant metastasis. Distant metastasis may, however, become more import ant as success in treatment of the initial lesion improves. The histor y and clinical signs (sneezing, nasal discharge, and facial deformity) of intranasal tumor in dogs often reflect intranasal disease but are usually nonspecific. Diagnostics should include at least the minimum d ata base, high-detail radiographs of the nasal cavity obtained while t he dog is anesthetized, and biopsy of nasal cavity tissue. Radiotherap y with or without aggressive cytoreduction is the only treatment that significantly extends survival of these dogs. Ortho-voltage, megavolta ge, or brachytherapy (implantation of (192)lridium) has been used.