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.