Which diagnostic examination is recommended for evaluating suspected nasopharyngeal polyps in a cat?

• A. Examine behind soft palate under anesthesia
• B. Radiographs of the thorax
• C. Ultrasound of the abdomen
• D. Otoscopy of the ear canal

Answer: (A)

Direct visualization of the nasopharyngeal area is essential when you suspect a nasopharyngeal polyp in a cat. Because these polyps sit at the back of the throat and can extend from the middle ear through the Eustachian tube into the nasopharynx, you need to access that region directly. Examining behind the soft palate under anesthesia allows you to move tissues safely and obtain a clear view of the nasopharynx to identify the presence of a polyp.

Radiographs of the thorax and ultrasound of the abdomen don’t assess the nasopharyngeal region and won’t reveal a mass there. Otoscopy might help if a polyp is visible in the ear canal, but it doesn’t evaluate the nasopharynx behind the soft palate, so it could miss a nasopharyngeal lesion entirely.