Nasopharyngeal and Middle Ear Polypoid Masses in Five Cats

Abstract

Five cats with nasopharyngeal and middle ear polypoid masses are presented. The clinical signs included nasal discharge, sneezing, labored breathing, swallowing difficulty, and voice changes. Diagnosis was made by radiography and oropharyngeal examination. Surgical mangement consisted of local nasopharyngeal polyp resection in all cats, combined with ventral bulla osteotomy in three cats. Recurrence resulted in two of the five cats in which incomplete nasopharyngeal removal was performed initially, but not in the cats treated by bulla osteotomy. Four of the five cats were clinically normal 7 to 14 (median 13) months following surgery. The fifth cat had mild upper respiratory airway noise at 7 months. The histopathologic diagnosis of these growths was inflammatory tissue.