Health Guide: Polyps Figure 1

Polyps Figure 1

Figure 1: Auricular (ear) polyp
Case history and photos

History

Lukkas had been healthy until at the age of approx. 1 � years old. At that time his cage mate died and Lukkas almost died of what we suspect was mycoplasmic respiratory infection. He finally recovered, but relapsed several months later. These two bouts of pneumonia left him quite frail.

Clinical Signs

Lukkas was noticed to have a “foul” odor with pus coming from the left ear. He did not have any head tilt.

Diagnosis

After an initial examination by the vet it was diagnosed as an ear infection.

Treatment and Follow-up

Lucas was prescribed oral antibiotics (baytril 5 mg. BID) and tresederm drops (3 in the afflicted ear daily).

After approx. 1 week of treatment the foul smell was almost completely gone as well as the pus. Upon examination one day, I found a growth protruding from the ear canal. It was dark red and rounded with the surface broken and a scabby area at the tip where he had been scratching at it.

Lucas returned to the Vet where the growth was partially removed, and diagnosed at this time as a nasopharyngeal polyp. There was minimal bleeding at the time of the removal. The polyp most likely formed in the eustachian tube.

Outcome and Follow-up notes

The problem was noted that with just simple removal if the base (source) of the polyp isn’t removed then 50% to 75% of the polyps will reoccur in 1 to 8 months. Therefore a more complicated, but thorough, surgical procedure called a ventral bulla osteotomy is recommended. This surgery removes the lower part of the bone that surrounds the inner ear. In a rat this would not be feasible since the bones are so minute.

Lukkas was to continue on the baytril and taken off the tresederm drops. He was prescribed panalog ointment twice a day in the affected ear.

As predicted the polyp did grow back within several weeks. The foul smell never completely went away. Lukkas’ respiratory condition worsened. He began to have trouble walking and there was bleeding from his ear. Doxycycline was added at this point to his treatment (3 mg. BID). Lukkas did have a partial recovery, but then relapsed again. It was at this time that the difficult decision was made to euthanize Lukkas to prevent his further suffering.

Photo 1: Pus and wax can be seen just inside left ear canal

Photo 2: Note pink protrusion from left ear canal.

Photo 3: Protrusion more pronounced.

Photo 4:

This photo, courtesy of John E McClay, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, University of Texas at Southwestern, shows an intact nasopharyngeal polyp removed from a pediatric patient.
The large bulb mass to the left is the body of the polyp and as you view towards the right of the photo, shows stem and base.

Photo 5: Shows polyp size recreation in rat.

Case history and photos courtesy of Bella Hodges, Bellaratta’s Nest Rattery
Pediatric polyp photo and study can be found at http://author.emedicine.com/PED/topic1550.htm

Posted on June 26, 2003, 14:14, Last updated on October 21, 2005, 09:15 | Figures