Feline inflammatory aural polyps: a retrospective imaging-based evaluation

Feline inflammatory aural polyps (FIAP) are common inflammatory lesions of the middle ear in cats and may cause otic, vestibular, and neurological clinical signs. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate signalment, clinical presentation, lesion localization, diagnostic imaging findings, and surgical management in cats diagnosed with FIAP.

Medical records of 154 cats diagnosed between 2019 and 2024 at a university veterinary hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding age, sex, breed, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging modalities, lesion characteristics, and surgical techniques were analyzed. Diagnostic evaluation included video otoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Most affected cats were adults aged 2-7 years, and no sex predisposition was identified. Bilateral involvement was observed in 51.1% of cases, while 48.8% were unilateral, with no statistically significant association between lesion laterality and age or breed. In 98.45% of evaluated cats, inflammatory polyps involved both the dorsolateral and ventromedial compartments of the middle ear. Ventral bulla ostectomy (VBO), performed alone or in combination with traction avulsion, was the most frequently applied surgical technique. No recurrence was observed in cats treated with VBO during the follow-up period.

FIAP may present as unilateral or bilateral disease and frequently exhibit multicompartmental involvement. Multimodal imaging plays a crucial role in accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Imaging-guided, individualized surgical management, particularly VBO when indicated, appears to provide favorable clinical outcomes.