Diagnostic accuracy of three biopsy techniques in 117 dogs with intra-nasal neoplasia.

Objectives: To determine if nasal biopsies taken at rhinoscopy are more accurate for diagnosing neoplasia than biopsies taken blindly or using advanced imaging for guidance.

Methods: A retrospective study of 117 dogs with nasal mass lesions that were divided into three groups according to the method of nasal biopsy collection; advanced imaging-guided, rhinoscopy-guided and blind biopsy. Signalment, imaging and rhinoscopic findings, and histopathological diagnosis were compared between groups. The proportion of first attempt biopsies confirming neoplasia were determined for each group.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of biopsies that confirmed neoplasia obtained via advanced imaging-guided, rhinoscopy-guided or blind biopsy techniques.

Clinical Significance: In dogs with a high index of suspicion of nasal neoplasia, blind biopsy may be as diagnostic as rhinoscopy-guided biopsy. Repeated biopsies are frequently required for definitive diagnosis.