Sixteen horses with suspected
paranasal sinus disease had endoscopic examination of the paranasal sinuses with a 4.0 mm
arthroscope either while standing and sedated (14 horses) or under
general anesthesia (two horses). Endoscopic diagnosis included
sinusitis (four horses), sinus
cyst (three horses),
hemorrhage (three horses),
neoplasia (three horses), and tooth root abnormalities (two horses). No abnormalities were detected in one horse. Endoscopic findings concurred with the radiographic findings in 13 horses (81%). Samples of sinus contents for bacteriologic (eight horses) and histologic examinations (five horses) were obtained using sinus endoscopy. Diagnostic sinus endoscopy was combined with
debridement, lavage, and suction as a therapeutic technique in 10 horses. In three horses, sinus exploration was performed after diagnostic endoscopy confirmed sinus disease, whereas in three horses, further
therapy was not recommended after sinus endoscopy. Clinical signs of sinus disease resolved in 11 horses (69%) overall and in eight of 10 horses (80%) with
sinusitis,
cyst formation, or
hemorrhage using endoscopic techniques alone. Mild, local
subcutaneous emphysema occurred at the portal sites in all horses, but healing occurred without additional complications. Iatrogenic damage to sinus structures occurred in one horse. Sinus endoscopy was useful in the diagnosis and management of
paranasal sinus disease and avoided the need for exploratory sinusotomy in some horses.