Survival Outcomes Following Endoscopic Nasal Tumor Resection in Canines

Presentation Description / Summary: Background

The use of surgical intervention to treat sinonasal tumors has been limited due to the morbidity and mortality associated with rhinotomy and introduction of radiation therapy in the 1990s. Recent advancements in endoscopic techniques and surgical instrumentation, however, have positioned endoscopic nasal surgery as a viable treatment option in veterinary medicine. The objectives of this study were to describe a novel endoscopic nasal tumor resection (ENTR) technique and report the associated cancer survival outcomes in canines.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed to examine canines diagnosed with intranasal tumors and received ENTR between January 2014 and December 2022 at a private referral veterinary clinic. Subjects were excluded if euthanized prior to treatment, lost to follow up, or received radiation therapy. Demographics, medical history, and survival outcomes were collected and analyzed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Spearman correlation tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

A total of 76 canines met study inclusion criteria. Carcinomas (49%) and sarcomas (24%) accounted for the primary reported diagnoses in the cohort, with the majority of canines having D3 (38%) and D4 (25%) tumor staging using the Modified Adam’s Method. The median survival following surgery was 162 days (range: 0-1393 days). The correlation between ENTR method and survival was significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The reported endoscopic nasal resection technique represents a new, feasible option for treating sinonasal cancers in canines. ENTR may serve as an alternative palliative care modality when radiation therapy is not accessible and may improve survival outcomes when performed prior to radiation treatment.