An inflammatory polyp is a benign, pink, stalked mass that grows from the lining of the middle ear, the auditory (Eustachian) tube or the pharynx of a young cat. Depending on which way it grows, it blocks the airway behind the soft palate or appears in the ear canal. It is the classic cause of snoring breathing in a young cat, and the NAVLE likes it as a differential for chronic nasal and ear signs.
Key facts
Nasopharyngeal polyp at a glance- Species and system: cat; upper respiratory tract and ear.
- Cause: unknown. A link with viral or bacterial infection has not been shown, FCV and FHV-1 are not found in polyp tissue, and there is no link with retrovirus status.
- Signalment: young cats (3 months to 5 years); no sex or breed predisposition.
- Classic presentation: stertor, nasal discharge and difficulty swallowing (nasopharyngeal), or head shaking, ear discharge and Horner syndrome (aural).
- Diagnosis: examination of ears and nasopharynx under sedation, imaging, and histology of the removed mass.
- Treatment: removal; regrowth in 15 to 50% of cats after traction avulsion alone.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Working through a young cat with stertor
- Why the stalk matters
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.