Outcome of definitive fractionated radiation followed by exenteration of the nasal cavity in dogs with sinonasal neoplasia: 16 cases

Local control is a major challenge in treating canine nasal tumours. Surgical cytoreduction prior to radiation therapy has not been shown to offer a survival advantage. Only one study has previously evaluated the outcome when surgery is performed after radiation, which demonstrated an improved survival time compared with radiation alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome of surgery after definitive radiation on survival times in dogs with sinonasal tumours. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for dogs with nasal tumours that received definitive radiation followed by surgery. Information obtained from medical record review included signalment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. The median survival time was 457 days. No long‐term side effects were observed. These findings suggest that exenteration of the nasal cavity following definitive radiation for treatment of dogs with nasal tumours is well‐tolerated and provides a similar survival duration to previous reports of radiation alone.