Background: Intranasal neoplasia represents 1–2% of tumors in dogs, most of which are malignant. Clinical signs often overlap with non-neoplastic nasal disease, making advanced imaging and histopathology important for diagnostic guidance. Many nasal biopsy techniques require specialized equipment. Blind per-nostril nasal biopsy is widely accessible but is reported to have only modest diagnostic accuracy (54–67%). Factors influencing diagnostic success of blind nasal biopsies remain poorly defined. Hypothesis/
Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a blind nasal biopsy technique in dogs with CT-confirmed nasal masses, describe associated clinicopathologic and diagnostic features, and identify factors associated with diagnostic accuracy. Animals: Fifty-nine dogs with CT-confirmed nasal masses that underwent blind nasal biopsy at a single referral center from 2020-2025.
Methods: Retrospective evaluation of patient demographics, clinical signs, CT-derived mass characteristics, and histopathology. Diagnostic accuracy was defined as agreement among clinical impression, CT interpretation, and histopathologic diagnosis.
Results: Blind nasal biopsy yielded accurate diagnoses in 88.1% of cases. Most lesions were neoplastic (78%), with the remainder being inflammatory. Histopathologic review showed consistently high-quality samples, with minimal artifact. Complications were generally mild, most commonly transient hemorrhage. Cribriform plate involvement was identified in approximately 40% of cases, however, did not influence diagnostic accuracy nor complication rates. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Blind per-nostril nasal biopsy, performed following CT imaging, is a practical and reliable diagnostic approach for canine intranasal masses, yielding high diagnostic accuracy with minimal morbidity.
