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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

CT scan signs of nasal cryptococcosis infection in cats and dogs

By Cooley, Stacy et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2022·Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: CT findings of nasal cryptococcosis in cats and dogs: A case series.

Species:
dog
Breathing & coughDogs

Plain-English summary

A 10-year-old cat was brought in for chronic nasal congestion and sneezing, which led to a diagnosis of nasal cryptococcosis, a fungal infection. A CT scan revealed a mass in the nasopharynx, but it was non-destructive, meaning it hadn't damaged surrounding tissues. The cat was treated with antifungal medication and showed improvement in symptoms over time. In contrast, a 7-year-old dog with similar symptoms had a more severe case, with destructive rhinitis and a mass that extended into the nasal cavity, requiring a more aggressive treatment approach.

People also search for: cat nasal congestion treatment · dog sneezing and nasal mass · cryptococcosis in pets · antifungal treatment for cats · chronic rhinitis in dogs

Abstract

Cryptococcus spp. can cause chronic rhinitis in cats and dogs. Computed tomography (CT) descriptions of imaging features of nasal cryptococcosis are limited. This retrospective single-center consecutive case series aimed to describe the CT features of lesions in cats and dogs with nasal cryptococcosis. Ten cats and 12 dogs with a diagnosis of nasal cryptococcosis confirmed with cytology, histopathology, and/or serology that had undergone a head CT from 2010 and 2020 were included. Images were evaluated by a veterinary radiologist for the presence of a nasal or nasopharyngeal mass, regional destruction, intracranial extension, and lymphadenopathy. The majority of cats (8/10 [80%]) had nasal lesions with most cases described as non-destructive rhinitis (7/8 [88%]). Three cats (3/10 [30%]) had a nasal mass. All cats had a nasopharyngeal mass, and in most cases (8/10 [80%]) the nasopharyngeal mass was centered caudally near the temporomandibular joints. None of the cats had cribriform plate lysis or meningeal enhancement. All dogs had nasal lesions. Eleven dogs (11/12 [92%]) had destructive rhinitis with lysis of nasal conchae. Most dogs (8/12; 67%) had a nasal mass, of which in seven dogs the caudal nasal mass extended into the rostral nasopharynx. Most dogs had cribriform plate lysis (9/12 [75%]), of which four dogs (44%) had mass extension into the cranium. Our findings support potential differences in CT features between dogs and cats with nasal cryptococcosis. Nasal cryptococcosis should be considered a differential diagnosis in dogs and cats with nasal and nasopharyngeal masses.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35279897/