Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Nose and Sinuses in Cats

  

The respiratory system has many parts, but the two important parts of the upper respiratory system are the nose and paranasal sinuses. The paranasal sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones of the skull. They connect with the nose and help to add moisture to the air that a cat breathes in through its nose. Both the inside of the nose and the paranasal sinuses are covered in the same type of tissue, called the epithelium. The outer layer of this tissue is scale like, and is called the squamous epithelium. Tumors that grow from this squamous epithelium are called squamous cell carcinomas.

 

Squamous cell carcinomas usually grow slowly over several months. Most commonly, they occur on both sides of the nose. It is common for this kind of cancer to spread to the bone and tissue near it, and in some cases this type of nasal tumor can spread to the brain and cause seizures.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Runny nose that goes on for a long time
• Occasional bloody nose
• Excessive tears (epiphora)
• Excessive sneezing
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Seizures
• Bulging eyes
• Nose seems deformed

 

Causes

 

There are currently no known causes for this type of nasal tumor.

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to provide a thorough history of your cat's health leading up to the onset of symptoms. A complete blood count and biochemical profile will be ordered. The results of these tests will indicate if there is an infections that is causing your cat's symptoms. Samples of your cat's nasal discharge will also indicate if there are any infections present in the mucus.

 

Your veterinarian will order X-rays of your cat's head and chest to determine whether a tumor is present, now large it is and whether it has invaded the bone or spread to the lungs. Your veterinarian may also order a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRI) scan of your cat's head in order to get a more detailed image of the tumor and the inside of your cat's skull. These will help your veterinarian to determine how advanced the tumor is and how it might best be treated.

 

 

Biopsies are an essential diagnostic tool for determining the exact type of carcinoma that is affecting your cat. Your veterinarian will order a biopsy of the tumor in your cat's nose as well as a bioptic sample from the lymph nodes. The results of the laboratory tests from the lymph fluid will indicate whether the carcinoma has spread to other organs.

 

Treatment

 

Squamous cell carcinomas in the nose and sinuses are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. If your cat has surgery, the part of the sinuses that are affected by the tumor will be removed during surgery. After your cat has recovered from surgery, your veterinarian may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy. For some types of radiation therapy, your cat may need to stay in the hospital.

 

In some cases, surgery may not be practical and your cat may be treated with radiation or chemotherapy alone. Some forms of radiation therapy are just as effective as the combination of surgery and radiation. Your veterinarian will counsel you on the possible treatments that are available.

 

Living and Management

 

It is common for a cat that has been affected with a squamous cell carcinoma of the nose or sinuses to have nasal discharge and inflammation after surgery and radiation therapy. These symptoms usually go away in in the course of several weeks. Fungal infections are also possible in its nose after surgery. Your veterinarian will tell you what to look for and will help you monitor your cat for these infections. As with many carcinomas, it is common for these tumors to recur after treatment. Usually when they return, they have spread (or metastasized) to the brain. Some cats can do well for up to a year after treatment.