Nasopharyngeal stenosis is a pathologic condition in which there is a narrowing within the nasopharynx caudal to the choanae,
resulting in variable degrees of inspiratory stertor. See how interventional radiography and endoscopy can help you identify
and treat this abnormality in this case study.
Initial findings
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Signalment: 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthaired cat
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Presenting complaint: 1.5-year history of inspiratory stertor, intermittent dyspnea and weight loss
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Pertinent history: Intermittent nasal discharge started three years before presentation that progressed to static inspiratory noise, requiring
the cat to sleep in a separate room from the owner over the past 1.5 years. The cat has a decreased appetite associated with
difficulty breathing while eating.
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Previous diagnostics performed
—Head and neck radiographs: results normal
—Complete blood count and serum chemistry profile: results normal
—Antibiotic trials: intermittent improvement in discharge, no improvement in breathing
—Computed tomography (CT) (3-mm slices): Evidence of fluid accumulation in both nasal passages and frontal sinus; thickening
of nasal turbinates suggestive of chronic rhinitis
—Antegrade rhinoscopy and biopsy: thickened nasal turbinates, moderate lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis
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Previous medications: Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (15 mg/kg orally b.i.d. for 14 days) doxycycline (5 mg/kg orally b.i.d for seven days followed
by 10 ml of water orally), and clindamycin (11 mg/kg orally b.i.d. for 21 days). After biopsy results, a tapering course of
prednisone was administered per the referring internal medicine specialist (1 mg/kg/day tapered over two months).
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Progression: Each course of antibiotics improved the nasal discharge. The prednisone improved the inspiratory noise slightly, but it never
fully resolved.
Initial diagnostic evaluation
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Physical examination: Bright, alert, good body condition; mucopurulent nasal discharge bilaterally; severe inspiratory stertor with open-mouth
breathing; referred upper airway noise over the area of the larynx/pharynx on auscultation
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Problem list
—Severe chronic inspiratory stertor and dyspnea
—Chronic bilateral nasal discharge
—Nasopharyngeal polyp
—Nasal tumor
—Severe lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis
—Nasal foreign body
—Nasopharyngeal stenosis
Further diagnostics
• CT with 1-mm slices of the entire head and pharynx (Figure 1)
• Retroflex and antegrade rhinoscopy (Figure 2,)
Diagnosis
- Severe nasopharyngeal stenosis
- Moderate chronic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis
Figure 1: A CT image of the cat in this case with a nasopharyngeal stenosis. A) A transverse image caudal to the nasopharyngeal
stenosis (NPS) in the nasopharynx. This is the area where measurements are typically taken for stent and balloon sizing. B)
A transverse image of the stenosis. Note the narrowing. C) A transverse image just rostral to the stenosis in the area of
the nasopharynx that sits just dorsal to the hard palate. D) A sagittal image of the nasopharynx (rostral to the right and
caudal to the left). Note the narrowing at the junction of the hard (HP) and soft (SP) palate inside the nasopharynx (NP).
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Figure 2: A retroflex rhinoscopic view of the nasopharynx showing a narrow opening.
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