Case Study

CT – Bilateral rhinitis with mild destructive component and otitis media in a 15 year old MN Maine Coon cat

This 15 year old MN Maine Coon cat has a history of sneezing and intermittent purulent left sided nasal discharge, only mild improvement with antibiotics. PCR for mycoplasma negative. Mild heart murmur 1/6.

CBC/Chem: WBC 17,790, HCT 27%, BUN 35, Crea 2.8, Ca 12.3, Na 168

U/A: USPG 1.020, trace protein

CBC/Chem: WBC 17,790, HCT 27%, BUN 35, Crea 2.8, Ca 12.3, Na 168

U/A: USPG 1.020, trace protein

DX

• Mild bilateral rhinitis with mild destructive component on the left side • Mild chronic rightsided otitis media • Multifocal FORL lesions, disuse atrophy of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar crest

Image Interpretation

CT of the head and thorax – The computed tomography of the head reveals mild localized leftsided destruction of the nasal turbinates along with mild bilateral swelling of the mucosal lining. The mucosal swelling is more pronounced on the right side. A mild amount of fluid attenuating secretions is noted within the right ympanic bulla. The bulla wall presents mild generalized swelling with even surface. Mild incidental nasal septal deformity with rightsided deviation is noted. A hypoechancing liver nodule of 8 mm diameter is noted in a midline position within the liver parenchyma.

Outcome

Normal geriatric thorax; Liver nodule: likely benign, such as cyst or benign hyperplasia. A malignancy cannot be ruled out entirely. The most likely underlying cause of the rhinitis is bacterial or viral.