CT review of upper respiratory disorders in domestic cat

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract (URT) diseases are remarkably common in cats, and can be both challenging in the acute state and frustrating in the chronic state. The imaging of the feline nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses by conventional radiography is still common. However, information obtained by this technique is limited, primarily because of superimposition of anatomic structures. Radiographic findings from conventional radiography can be vastly extended with computed tomography (CT). In this article, we discuss the application of CT and the typical radiographic features of feline viral and fungal rhinitis, nasal neoplasia, inflammatory polyps, nasopharyngeal stenosis, soft palate dysgenesis, and nasal foreign bodies.