Case Study

CT – Expansile nasal soft tissue mass with osteolysis, rhinitis and sinusitis in a 8 year old MN Schnauzer

This 8 year old MN Schnauzer has right side epistaxis and no air flow through the right nostril.

Image Interpretation

CT of the head –

The computed tomography of the head reveals a soft tissue attenuating and non-uniformly enhancing expansile mass lesion of 5 x 4 x 3 cm within the mid and caudal thirds of the right nasal cavity. The mass presents infiltrative growth with extensive nasal turbinate destruction as well as multifocal osteolysis of the nasal, maxillary, palatinal, vomer bone, and extension into the left nasal cavity and through the dorsum of the nose. There is no intracranial extension or contrast enhancement. The nasal passage is completely obstructed. The right frontal sinus contains fluid attenuating secretions.

DX

The computed tomographic findings are compatible with a malignant right-sided expansile nasal soft tissue neoplasia with secondary aggressive osteolysis and secretory rhinitis and sinusitis.

Outcome

Possible differentials include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, lymphosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and other.
The computed tomography is negative for metastatic spread to the regional lymph nodes.