Tubulotrabecular adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx operated by transoral and transpalatal approach in a cat

Abstract

Case summary A 10-year-old castrated male crossbreed Birman cat was presented for respiratory difficulties, nasal discharge, dysphagia and wheezing. An obstructive nasopharyngeal mass invading the caudoventral nasal cavity and the left sphenoid sinus was observed on a CT scan. Surgical treatment via a ventral rhinotomy and curettage was performed. Histopathology revealed an adenocarcinoma with tubulotrabecular architecture. The cat’s clinical signs significantly improved postoperatively. After 10 months, a recurrence was documented and a second surgical procedure was performed that allowed the patient to live an additional 6 months without clinical signs and an overall survival time of 19 months after first presentation. Relevance and novel information This case report describes a nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma treated by ventral rhinotomy in a cat. To our knowledge, there is only one other report describing this surgery on a nasal adenocarcinoma in a cat. The tomodensitometric, endoscopic and unusual histological appearance of the mass are reported. The prognosis after surgical removal of nasal adenocarcinomas in cats is only sparsely documented. This case demonstrates that ventral rhinotomy might be considered if first-line treatment is declined.