Nose cancer (or nasal adenocarcinoma) occurs when too many cells in a cat's nasal and sinus passages come together. The disease progresses slowly. Studies have shown nose cancer is more common in larger animal breeds than in smaller ones, and it may be more common in males than females. Options exist when the disease is caught early and aggressively treated.
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Mucus-like material from the nose (nasal discharge)
- Facial deformity
- Pain in the nose
- Obstructive masses in the animal's nose
A pollutant-filled environment is one of the known causes of nose cancer, but exact causes are otherwise largely unknown.
Veterinarians may utilize a variety of tools to detect nose cancer. A microscopic camera placed in the nose (rhinoscopy) can be used to look into the nasal cavity, although it may not be effective if blood or masses are obstructing the view. A tissue sample (biopsy) will be done for a definitive diagnosis. A diagnosis can also be made if bacterial cultures come back positive. Material from the lymph nodes are sometimes examined to see if the disease has spread (metastasized) into other parts of a cat's body.
A cavity within a bone; may also indicate a flow or channel
Small structures that filter out the lymph and store lymphocytes
The process of removing tissue to examine it, usually for medical reasons.
The result of a malignant growth of the tissue of the epithelial gland.
Anything that looks different from what is considered to be normal and healthy for that species