Endoscopic diagnostics of chronic diseases of the nasal cavity in dogs

Results of a two-year project focused on diagnostic efficacy of various end oscopic techniques and their combination in 52 dogs affected by chronic dis eases of the nasal cavity are presented. The rigid endoscope Hopkins (diame ter 2.7 mm, length 18 cm, Karl Storz, Tuttlingen) and the flexible endoscop e Olympus BF Type PE (Olympus Optical Co., Hamburg) were used for anterior and posterior rhinoscopy, respectively. Bioptic samples of damaged nasal ti ssues were collected under endoscopic guidance, fixed in 10% buffered neutr al formaldehyde for 12 to 24 h and processed by the conventional paraffin t echnique. Deep swabs for bacteriological and mycological examinations were also collected under rhinoscopic guidance. Bacterial and fungal rhinitis an d neoplasms were diagnosed in 50%, 19.2%, and 23.1% of the patients, respec tively. Foreign bodies were found in four patients (7.7%). Three patients a ffected by mycotic rhinitis developed fungal plaques on the nasal mucosa. T he passage of endoscope was completely blocked by rumours in the anterior p art of the nasal cavity in two patients. Destructive lesions were found mos tly in patients with chronic nasal problems (aspergillosis, foreign body, c hronic bacterial infection). Anterior rhinoscopy with a rigid endoscope and posterior rhinoscopy with a flexible endoscope yielded correct diagnoses i n 55.8% and 26.9% of the patients, respectively. Examination by both the te chniques increased this proportion to 82.7%. The reliability of histologica l examination of tissue samples collected by endoscope-assisted biopsy was 94.4%, while that of the other laboratory test only 41.7%. Rhinoscopy can s ignificantly improve the reliability of diagnosis of canine chronic disease s of the nasal cavity.