Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

Summary

# Editorial Summary Chronic unilateral nasal discharge in horses has long presented diagnostic challenges, yet the anatomical structures most commonly implicated—the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and their associated air cells—remain poorly characterised in the veterinary literature. Froydenlund and colleagues undertook a detailed morphological investigation of these bullae, examining their drainage patterns, cellular architecture and histological composition to establish a comprehensive anatomical framework. Their work is particularly timely given increasing recognition that infection within these structures represents a clinically significant but underdiagnosed cause of persistent, one-sided nasal discharge. Understanding the normal anatomy, communication pathways between air cells, and mucosal characteristics of the conchal bullae directly informs diagnostic imaging interpretation, endoscopic assessment, and treatment planning—whether conservative management or surgical intervention is undertaken. For farriers and veterinary colleagues managing horses with recurrent or treatment-resistant nasal disease, this research provides essential anatomical context for understanding why certain cases prove intractable and how structural abnormalities or infections in these previously overlooked recesses might be identified and addressed.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Key Findings

• •Dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae morphology, cellulae, drainage patterns, and histology are poorly described in existing literature
• •Recognition that nasal conchal bullae can become infected is stimulating renewed clinical interest in these structures

Conditions Studied