Osseous Changes in Young Cats With Inflammatory Aural Polyps: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography is an imaging tool that has been used in veterinary medicine with excellent results to evaluate changes associated with inflammatory aural polyps (IPs) in feline patients. There is no known veterinary literature investigating the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to identify osseous changes in the middle and inner ear associated with IPs in cats. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the utility of CBCT to identify osseous changes in the middle and inner ear associated with IPs in young cats, and to determine the frequency of osseous changes in young cats. ANIMALS: Review of 38 medical records of cats diagnosed with IPs presented to a private practice dermatological service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT bone window studies at a 0.3-mm isotropic slice thickness were performed without contrast and later evaluated by a board-certified veterinary radiologist. RESULTS: CBCT images were adequate to identify normal and affected structures in the middle and inner ear of cats. The most common osseous changes in descending order of occurrence were mild-to-severe bulla thickening (65.7%), auditory tube widening (52.6%), and cochlear and ossicular chain lysis (7.8%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study demonstrates that CBCT is useful as an initial imaging diagnostic when an IP is suspected in cats. Osseous changes such as tympanic bulla thickening, cochlear and ossicular chain lysis, and auditory tube and internal acoustic meatus widening on CBCT imaging could be indicatory of an inflammatory aural polyp.