Comparison of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of canine intranasal neoplasia

Abstract

Objectives-Canine intranasal neoplasia is commonly evaluated using computed tomography to indicate the diagnosis, to determine disease extent, to guide histological sampling location and to plan treatment. With the expanding use of magnetic resonance imaging in veterinary medicine, this modality has been recently applied for the same purpose. The aim of this study was to compare the features of canine intranasal neoplasia using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.Methods-Twenty-one dogs with confirmed intranasal neoplasia underwent both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The images were reviewed retrospectively for the bony and soft tissue features of intranasal neoplasia.Results-Overall computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging performed very similarly. However, lysis of bones bordering the nasal cavity and mucosal thickening was found on computed tomography images more often than on magnetic resonance images. Small amounts of fluid in the nasal cavity were more often seen on magnetic resonance images. However, fluid in the frontal sinuses was seen equally well with both modalities.Clinical Significance-We conclude that computed tomography is satisfactory for evaluation of canine intranasal neoplasia, and no clinically relevant benefit is gained using magnetic resonance imaging for intranasal neoplasia without extent into the cranial cavity.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE FOR THE ADVANCED IMAGING OF THE NORMAL NASAL CAVITY AND PARANASAL SINUSES OF THE KOALA (PHASCOLARCTOS CINEREUS)

“…20 A similar study compared the use of CT and MRI for evaluation of intranasal neoplasia without involvement of the cranial vault. 7 When no intracranial extension was present, both modalities provided similar information although turbinate, cribriform plate, and bony septum lysis were subjectively easier to recognize on CT images than on MR images. 7 On the other hand, MRI was found to be preferable for identification of small quantities of fluids in the nasal cavity.…”

“…7 When no intracranial extension was present, both modalities provided similar information although turbinate, cribriform plate, and bony septum lysis were subjectively easier to recognize on CT images than on MR images. 7 On the other hand, MRI was found to be preferable for identification of small quantities of fluids in the nasal cavity. 7 When characteristics of the soft tissue and skull bone of the head of acromegalic cats were compared on CT and MRI, mucosal thickening was more obvious on MRI and bony sclerosis and thickening was more obvious on CT, once again demonstrating the complementarity use of the two imaging modalities.…”

“…7 On the other hand, MRI was found to be preferable for identification of small quantities of fluids in the nasal cavity. 7 When characteristics of the soft tissue and skull bone of the head of acromegalic cats were compared on CT and MRI, mucosal thickening was more obvious on MRI and bony sclerosis and thickening was more obvious on CT, once again demonstrating the complementarity use of the two imaging modalities. 9 CT and MRI are probably both valuable diagnostic tools for imaging nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses of koalas.…”

“…The dorsal conchae are almost parallel to the nasal septum and remain in the uppermost region of the nasal cavity, and there is a thin dorsal meatus between the septum and the dorsal conchae (Figs. [6][7][8][9]. The ventral conchae originate from the lateral aspect of the nasal cavity, and their attachment to the maxillary bones runs dorsally from rostral to caudal (Figs.…”

“…4,5,10 Both modalities provide important tools to investigate disease of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses because bony and soft tissues are equally important components of these structures. 7 There is little published literature describing the anatomy of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses of the koala. Macrini et al 2012 15 describe the general morphology of the marsupial structures of the interior nasal cavity using conventional radiography, and CT. Hemsley et al 2013 11 provide excellent and detailed descriptions of the CT anatomy of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and tympanic cavity of the koala.…”