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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with nasal sinus tract diagnosed by contrast rhinography

By Cruz-Arámbulo, Robert de J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2003·Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Use of positive contrast rhinography and intranasal sinography for diagnosis of a nasofacial sinus tract in a dog.

Species:
dog
Breathing & coughDogs

Plain-English summary

A 2-year-old female Bulldog developed severe swelling and air pockets under her skin twelve days after a dog fight. The vet found that air had leaked into her chest and abdomen, likely due to a connection between her nasal cavity and the skin. To confirm this, they used special imaging techniques that showed a sinus tract leading from her nose to the skin. After surgically closing this opening, her symptoms started to improve within a day, and she recovered well.

People also search for: Bulldog nasal cavity issue · dog fight injury treatment · subcutaneous emphysema in dogs

Abstract

Twelve days after a dog fight, a 2-year-old sexually intact female Bulldog was evaluated because of subcutaneous emphysema of increasing severity throughout the dogs body. Thoracic radiography revealed severe pneumomediastinum from which free air had extended into the retroperitoneal space, resulting in pneumoperitoneum. Tracheoscopic examination did not reveal a discontinuity of the trachea, pharynx, or larynx. A breach between the nasal cavity and subcutaneous tissues of the nasal region was suspected. Further diagnostic investigations included positive contrast rhinography and intranasal sinography. Via an angiographic catheter inserted into the left naris, positive contrast intranasal sinography revealed a sinus tract extending between the left nasal cavity and the subcutaneous tissue of the dorsal aspect of the nasal planum. Resolution of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoretroperitoneum began 1 day after surgical closure of the intranasal opening of the sinus tract. To the authors' knowledge, this radiographic technique has not been reported.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12784964/