These tumours are located in the (vicinity of the) nasal cavities.

Behaviour

Tumours located in the nasal cavity can be tumour types such as carcinomas, sarcomas, and rarely other types as well. The risk of metastasis is considered low. If metastases occur, they’re mostly located in the nearby lymph nodes and lungs.

Prevalence

Tumours located in the nasal cavity are relatively rare (1-2% of tumours in dogs and cats).

The clinical signs are not very specific (purulent or mucous nasal discharge) and imaging is often necessary to detect the presence of the tumour. The symptoms become gradually worse and on average the diagnosis is only made 2-3 months after the first appearance of symptoms. A radiograph is not very specific, but can indicate a mass and possibly also damage to the bones. A CT scan can help estimate the size and location of the tumour. An MRI scan can help determine whether the brain has been affected. These radiographs, CT and/or MRI scans are taken under anaesthesia as the dog has to lie perfectly still. The exact tumour type can be determined via tissue sampling. The result of the tissue sampling will help the veterinarian choose the most suitable treatment.

Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for tumours located in the nasal cavity. Surgery nor chemotherapy have led to reliable long-term results.

When treated with radiotherapy, the risk of relapse is very high. In case of relapse, the dog can receive additional radiation therapy sessions, although this increases the risk of long-term complications due to the increased total radiation dosage. The more advanced the tumour stage, the shorter the survival. For poorly organized carcinomas, survival times of 4-8 months have been reported, whilst this was (over) 15 months for chondrosarcomas.