The effectiveness of computed tomography in differentiating nasal neoplastic disease from non-neoplastic disease in dogs

Abstract

Seventy-eight dogs with symptoms of rhinitis were evaluated by computed tomography(CT)to differentiate nasal neoplastic diseases(neoplastic group)from non-neoplastic diseases(non-neoplastic group). The age distribution was significantly higher in the neoplastic group(p<0.001). Miniature Dachshunds were seen significantly more in the non-neoplastic group(p<0.001). The CT findings of osteolysis(nasal septum, hard palate, cribriformplate)and tumor infiltration(nasopharyngeal, orbit and surrounding subcutaneous tissues)were significantly more frequent in the neoplastic group(p<0.001). The median CT number was 50.8 HU in the neoplastic group and 38.0 HU in the non-neoplastic group(p<0.001), and the median standard deviation for each case was 9.3 HU in the neoplastic group and 24.1 HU in the non-neoplastic group(p<0.001). These results suggest that the CT numbers in neoplastic lesions are uniform compared to the numbers in non-neoplastic lesions. In conclusion, a neoplastic lesion can be suggested when CT images reveal osteolysis, aggressive invasiveness and homogeneous CT numbers.