Imaging diagnosis–equine nasal septal thickening due to chronic chondritis.

This research article discusses how Computed Tomography (CT) was used to diagnose a 6-year-old mare who was experiencing upper airway obstruction due to nasal septum thickening, which was later found to be a result of chronic dissecting chondritis. A successful treatment was done through the resection of the abnormal nasal septum.

Introduction

The article presents a case of a 6-year-old mare experiencing upper airway obstruction. Researchers employed Computed Tomography (CT), a significant medical imaging tool, to diagnose the cause of the problem which was discovered to be an abnormally thick nasal septum.

Method of CT Imaging

• To visualize the cause of the obstruction in the mare’s upper airway, a CT scan was administered. This is a common and effective method that can provide detailed images of body structures including the nasal septum.
• The CT scan revealed multifocal cyst-like lesions on the mare’s nasal septum, an abnormality that is responsible for the airway obstruction the horse was facing.

Diagnosis

• The diagnosis for the observed nasal septum swelling was confirmed through histopathology, which is the examination of tissues under the microscope to study manifestations of the disease.
• The lesions identified in the CT scan were determined to be due to chronic dissecting chondritis – a long-term inflammation of the cartilage.

Treatment and Outcome

• The researchers performed a resection, a surgical removal of the abnormal part of the nasal septum that was causing the obstruction.
• This surgical procedure resulted in the resolution of the clinical signs, effectively curing the horse of the upper airway obstruction.
• The successful treatment as documented in this study suggests that using CT imaging for diagnosis and subsequent surgical intervention can be a viable approach for horses suffering from similar conditions.