Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and cross-sectional views of the anatomy of normal nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in mesaticephalic dogs.

Objective: To use computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide a detailed description of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in clinically normal mesaticephalic dogs.

Animals: 2 clinically normal Belgian Shepherd Dogs that weighed 25 and 35 kg, respectively.

Procedure: The first dog was anesthetized and positioned in ventral recumbency for CT and MRI examinations, and transverse slices were obtained from the caudal part of the frontal sinuses to the nares. For MRI, T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and proton-density sequences were obtained. The second dog was anesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency with the head perpendicular to the table, and CT and MRI examinations were again conducted. At the completion of the MRI examination, each dog received an i.v. injection of heparin and then was euthanatized. A 4% solution of formaldehyde was perfused i.v. immediately after each dog was euthanatized. The skull was prepared, decalcified, embedded with gelatin, and sectioned into 5-mm-thick sections by use of a stainless-steel knife. Each anatomic section was photographed and compared with the corresponding CT and MRI views.

Results: Structures on the CT and MRI views matched structures on the corresponding anatomic sections. The CT scans provided good anatomic detail of the bony tissues, and MRI scans were superior to CT scans for determining soft-tissue structures.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: CT and MRI provide a means for consistent evaluation of all structures of the nasal cavities and frontal sinuses. Both techniques could be useful for evaluation of diseases that affect the nasal region.