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

CBCT is a useful diagnostic tool for identifying osseous changes associated with feline inflammatory aural polyps.

This retrospective study evaluates the utility of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for identifying osseous changes in the middle and inner ear of young cats diagnosed with inflammatory aural polyps (IPs). The researchers reviewed medical records of 38 cats and performed high-resolution CBCT imaging with 0.3-mm isotropic slice thickness without contrast, followed by evaluation by a board-certified veterinary radiologist. CBCT imaging successfully identified normal and affected structures in the feline middle and inner ear. The most frequently observed osseous changes included mild-to-severe tympanic bulla thickening (65.7%), auditory tube widening (52.6%), and cochlear and ossicular chain lysis (7.8%). The findings demonstrate that CBCT is a valuable diagnostic imaging modality for suspected inflammatory aural polyps in cats. Specific osseous changes visible on CBCT, including bulla thickening, cochlear and ossicular chain lysis, and auditory tube and internal acoustic meatus widening, may serve as radiographic indicators of inflammatory aural polyps, potentially improving early diagnosis and treatment planning in feline patients.

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