Abstract / Description of output
Nasal septal deviation has been studied in relation to nasal pathology and mass effect in dogs. However, the correlation between deviation and pathology in dogs remains unclear, especially as it pertains to nasal passage variations between breeds. The purpose of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to compare the prevalence of nasal septal deviation in dogs with rhinitis, neoplasia and those without nasal pathology based on the facial index, skull index and cranial index. Computed tomographic (CT) studies of the nasal cavities of dogs performed over a five-year period were retrospectively reviewed. This study had 233 dogs meeting the inclusion criteria with 135 dogs with no nasal pathology, 63 dogs with nasal neoplasia, and 35 dogs with rhinitis. The prevalence of nasal septal deviation, the angle, maximum distance and longitudinal extent of deviation were recorded, as well as measurements to calculate the facial index, cranial index and skull index. The results showed no difference in the prevalence of nasal septal deviation between dogs with nasal pathology and those without. The mean longitudinal extent of deviation and maximum distance of deviation was statistically greater for those with neoplasia compared to those with rhinitis and without nasal pathology. The longitudinal extent of deviation was inversely proportional to the cranial index, facial index and skull index. The angle of deviation was directly proportional to the facial index and skull index. In conclusion, nasal septal deviation is an anatomic variant in different breeds of dogs with no predilection based on nasal pathology. Nasal septal deviation should be interpreted cautiously in the assessment of canine nasal disease.
Introduction
Canine nasal pathology has become well documented due to the increased availability of computed tomography (CT). CT has been shown to be superior to radiographs for diagnosis of nasal disease, with >90% accuracy for chronic nasal disease in one study.1 This modality is especially accurate for determining the amount of soft tissue and the degree of bone lysis.1,2 Nasal neoplasia makes up about 1% of all canine neoplasms, with carcinomas accounting for 2/3 of intranasal cancer in dogs.3,4 Carcinomas and sarcomas tend to be aggressive lesions in the nasal passages, leading to lysis of the surrounding bones, the nasal septum, the turbinates and causing a mass effect.1,5-8 In rhinitis, aspergillosis is a common occurrence, with one study suggesting this should be the first differential in a dog with localized turbinate destruction.2 Nasal septal deviation has been associated with these nasal diseases in dogs and cats.1-2,9 However, recent studies suggest that nasal deviation can be seen in normal dogs10 as it has been already established in cats.11
The cephalic index has been used extensively to categorize breeds of dogs, especially with the increased phenotypic selection for brachycephalic dog breeds.12-14 These dogs, with their shorter nasal passages, are less likely to have nasal pathology.7 Dolichocephalic dogs have been shown to be predisposed to nasal pathology compared to the mesocephalic and brachycephalic groups,6-8 However, no master list of breeds based on cephalic group exists to the authors’ knowledge. These cephalic groups have been created based on different indices, including the facial index, cranial index, and skull index with a basic equation of (width x 100)/length.15,16 To the knowledge of the authors, there is no study that differentiates nasal septal deviation degree between dog breeds based on the facial, cephalic or skull indices. There is also no study comparing the degree of deviation in dogs with nasal pathology versus those without evidence of nasal pathology.
The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of nasal septal deviation in dogs with rhinitis, neoplasia and those without nasal pathology and between dogs of different skull shapes and draw conclusion on the relevance of nasal septal deviation. Our hypotheses were that firstly nasal septal deviation is a common finding in dogs independent of the absence or presence of nasal disease, secondly that dogs with nasal neoplasia will have a greater degree of deviation associated with a nasal space occupying lesion and thirdly that nasal septal deviation is prevalent to a greater degree and more frequently in dogs with increasing skull indices.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 279-284 |
Journal | Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound |
Volume | 6 |
Early online date | 29 Jan 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2020 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Computed tomography
- Dog
- Nasal septum
- Nose