Computed tomographic diagnosis of nasopharyngeal stenosis with bilateral otitis media in a young cat: a case report

Background: Nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) in cats is a rare pathological narrowing of the nasopharyngeal lumen and can be present as a congenital abnormality with a septal structure in the lumen or acquired secondary to an inflammatory/infectious condition, surgical manipulation, trauma, tumor, or polyp. Methods: A ۱.۵-year-old spayed domestic shorthair cat with chronic snoring and nasal breathing difficulty was referred for a plain and post-contrast thoracic and skull computed tomography (CT). Results: Skull CT revealed focal dorsal displacement of the soft palate and a focal soft tissue band spanning the lumen of the nasopharynx with luminal constriction in the mid-third of the nasopharynx. Both tympanic bullae exhibited increased soft-tissue attenuation typical of bilateral otitis media; external ear canals and nasal cavities were normal. Thoracic CT showed no abnormalities of the tracheobronchial tree, lungs, mediastinum, cardiovascular silhouette, or pleural spaces. Conclusion: Computed tomography precisely localized the NPS and identified concurrent middle-ear disease while excluding major nasal and thoracic abnormalities. In cats, inflammatory or infectious causes are the most common causes of acquired stenoses. Nasopharyngoscopy is recommended for definitive confirmation and to direct treatment planning.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cat ، Nasopharyngeal stenosis ، Otitis media ، Computed tomography