Clinical signs, treatment, and outcome in 15 cattle with sinonasal cysts.

Objective: To evaluate clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of cattle with sinonasal cysts.

Study Design: Case series.

Animals: Cattle (n = 15).

Methods: Medical records (2004-2011) of cattle with a fluid-filled mass in the nasal cavity, conchae, and/or paranasal sinuses were evaluated. Data retrieved and analyzed were reason of presentation, clinical signs, diagnostic techniques, surgical treatment, complications, and outcome.

Results: Common presenting clinical signs were abnormal respiratory noise, nasal discharge, and abnormal respiratory effort. Mean age of affected cattle was 21.7 months. In 9 animals, cysts were identified by endoscopy. Radiographic signs included a mass in the paranasal sinuses or conchae (13), nasal septum deviation (12), fluid lines (10), and bone atrophy (5). Ten cattle were treated surgically with osteoplastic flap techniques to gain access to the frontal or maxillary sinus (5), nasal extraction of the cyst under endoscopic control (3) or a combination of both techniques (2). Nine cattle returned to be productive members of their herd and had no recurrence (mean follow-up, 20.7 months).

Conclusions: Sinonasal cysts should be considered as a primary differential diagnosis in cattle with abnormal respiratory noise, particularly in younger animals. Multiple cysts were common, which underlines the importance of a thorough preoperative examination using appropriate imaging modalities. Despite the often expansive nature of sinonasal cysts, the prognosis with surgical treatment was good.