Computed tomography may be helpful in discriminating grass awn foreign body rhinitis from non‐foreign body rhinitis in dogs

Abstract

Grass awn foreign bodies are a common cause of rhinitis in dogs. Early detection and complete removal of these foreign bodies are important for minimizing risks of long term complications. The objective of this retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study was to determine whether discriminating CT findings exist between dogs with grass awn foreign body rhinitis and dogs with non-foreign body rhinitis. Computed tomography scans of 47 dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of non-foreign body rhinitis (25 cases) or of a nasal grass awn foreign body (22 cases) were reviewed. In the latter group, grass seeds were visualized directly on CT images for one of 22 (5%) cases. Focal lysis was more strongly associated with the presence of a grass awn foreign body (P = .012, LR = 3.0) and widespread lysis (involving more than one-third of the nasal cavity and/or bilateral) appeared associated with non-foreign body rhinitis (P = .046, LR = 2.0). Maxillary recess filling was associated with non-foreign body rhinitis (LR = 4.4) as was widespread lysis (LR = 2.0). Findings supported prioritizing grass awn foreign body rhinitis as a differential diagnosis for dogs with the former CT characteristics, even if a grass awn cannot be directly visualized.

Successful intraoperative ultrasound‐guided retrieval of intracranial grass seed foreign body in a 4‐month‐old puppy

“…Often, abscesses or granulomatous tissues are detectable at the site of migration. MRI and CT are effective methods for detecting brain abscesses in dogs and cats 1,4 . Even if a foreign body cannot be directly visualized on imaging modalities due to its composition, image artifacts may indicate its presence.…”

“…3 They are also especially problematic due to their exceptional ability to penetrate and migrate through the soft tissue due to their barbed morphology. In this case, authors hypothesized that the grass awn had entered through the nose, as evidenced by focal nasal turbinate lysis, 4 and subsequent focal osteitis near the calvarium. This defect allowed migration into the brain.…”

Ultrasonographic findings may be useful for differentiating interdigital abscesses secondary to migrating grass awns and interdigital furunculosis in dogs

“…Grass awn migration is frequently reported in North America 1 and Europe, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] with long-haired dogs being overrepresented. [2][3][4] Grass awns are reported to have the ability to penetrate and migrate through soft tissues, often silently for days to months before clinical signs appear.…”

“…2 The anatomic location of the grass awn at the moment of diagnosis is highly variable. 3,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Secondary to the migration, abscesses and draining tracts can develop and are sustained by the presence of the foreign body. After medical treatment, local inflammation is reported to recur if the foreign body has not been removed.…”

“…Grass awns are reported to have the ability to penetrate and migrate through soft tissues, often silently for days to months before clinical signs appear 2 . The anatomic location of the grass awn at the moment of diagnosis is highly variable 3,5–17 . Secondary to the migration, abscesses and draining tracts can develop and are sustained by the presence of the foreign body.…”