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Case Reports
. 2025 Feb;66(2):126-129.

Spontaneous resolution of a suspected nasopharyngeal polyp in a young cat

Amanda Whitman  1 , Gary D Norsworthy  1 , Robert O'Brien  1 , Connie Schmidt  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spontaneous resolution of a suspected nasopharyngeal polyp in a young cat

Amanda Whitman et al. Can Vet J. 2025 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To detail a case of a suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp, in a young cat, that disappeared without medical or surgical therapy.

Animal: A 5-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat that was client-owned and indoor-only.

Procedure: Serial head computed tomographic scans were done on a young cat to diagnose and monitor the size and location of the suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp.

Results: At 145 d after diagnosis of a suspected inflammatory nasopharyngeal polyp in a young cat via head computed tomographic scan, the mass was no longer present. The cat had not undergone any surgical or medical therapy from Day 0 to Day 145.

Conclusion: Although the standard of care for nasopharyngeal polyps in cats is to conduct the appropriate diagnostics and surgical treatment, this case may provide an alternative management approach if surgical treatment is not feasible or euthanasia is being considered.

Clinical relevance: This article presents a case in which a nasopharyngeal mass, a suspected inflammatory polyp, in a young cat spontaneously resolved with no medical or surgical intervention.

Résolution spontanée d’un polype nasopharyngé suspecté chez un jeune chat.

Objectif: Détailler un cas de polype nasopharyngé inflammatoire suspecté, chez un jeune chat, qui a disparu sans traitement médical ou chirurgical.

Animal: Un chat domestique mâle castré à poil court âgé de 5 mois, appartenant à un client et vivant uniquement à l’intérieur.

Procédure: Des analyses par tomodensitométrie en série de la tête ont été réalisées sur un jeune chat pour diagnostiquer et surveiller la taille et l’emplacement du polype nasopharyngé inflammatoire suspecté.

Résultats: À 145 jours après le diagnostic d’un polype nasopharyngé inflammatoire suspecté chez un jeune chat par tomodensitométrie de la tête, la masse n’était plus présente. Le chat n’avait subi aucune intervention chirurgicale ou médicale du jour 0 au jour 145.

Conclusion: Bien que la norme de soins pour les polypes nasopharyngés chez les chats consiste à effectuer le diagnostic et le traitement chirurgical appropriés, ce cas peut fournir une approche de gestion alternative si le traitement chirurgical n’est pas possible ou si l’euthanasie est envisagée.

Importance clinique: Cet article présente un cas dans lequel une masse nasopharyngée, un polype inflammatoire suspecté, chez un jeune chat s’est spontanément résolue sans intervention médicale ou chirurgicale.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Initial computed tomographic scan (Day 1) of a young cat. Note the nasopharyngeal mass (arrow in A) with right-sided obstructive otitis media (arrow in B).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Final follow-up computed tomographic scan (Day 145) of a young cat. The nasopharyngeal mass is no longer present (arrow in A). Tympanic bulla thickening has resolved (arrow in B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Norsworthy G, Romeo A. The Feline Patient. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell; 2019. pp. 422–423.
    1. Stewart N. What is your diagnosis? J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014;27:748–749.
    1. Little S. The Cat. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier; 2012. pp. 851–852.

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