218 Tumors of the Pharynx. 



become more frequent and lead linally to permanent difficulty 

 in deglutition and respiration. 



Discharges from the nose are only observed in part of the 

 cases, such discharges are sometimes fetid and mixed with 

 fragments of tissues. Epistaxis occasionally occurs; dogs 

 sometimes vomit and the tumor may then be visible in the 

 buccal cavity. 



With the exception of those on the posterior surface of 

 the soft palate, tumors of the pharynx in smaller animals can 

 be seen on inspection; in horses, however, only with the aid 

 of the rhinolaryngoscope. With the hand introduced into the 

 pharynx even those tumors can be palpated which arise in 

 the neighborhood of the posterior nares. 



Peripharyngeal tumors when present produce visible 

 changes in the pharynx. 



Swelling of the submaxillary, also occasionally of the 

 peripharyngeal lymphatic glands, occurs in malignant tumors 

 and tuberculosis of the pharynx. 



Diagnosis. The described disturbances of deglutition and 

 respiration, if developing slowly, strongly suggest the presence 

 of pharyngeal tumors ; a definite diagnosis can however be made 

 only after local inspection. When the examination of the 

 pharynx is negative, tumors of the larynx may be discovered 

 by laryngoscopy and it may perhaps be necessary to make an 

 exploratory laryngotomy. — Tumors of the larynx may also be 

 distinguished by the fact that compression of the larynx in- 

 creases the dyspnea; this is not the case in tumors of the 

 pharynx. However, exploratory tracheotomy may be necessary 

 to settle the point. — Nasal stenosis can easily be excluded by 

 a local inspection. — Retro- and peripharyngeal abscesses furnish 

 a similar clinical picture during a protracted course, but local 

 examination and the history of the case permit a correct 

 ditferential diagnosis. In making the latter the following other 

 conditions have to be considered: Chronic disease of the 

 pharynx, and of the guttural pouch, spasm of the glottis, steno- 

 sis of the bronchi, and in the case of dogs cardiac dyspnea in 

 uncompensated valvular disease of the heart, which likewise 

 leads to attacks of rattling respiration. 



The determination of the nature of the tumor requires 

 a careful examination of the pharynx and its neighborhood. 



Prognosis. This depends upon the seat and the nature 

 of the tumor. If the latter can be removed, the animal can 

 be saved; if its removal is impossible the animals die from 

 suffocation, pneumonia or marasmus. Even tuberculous tumors 

 may be removed and complete recovery may follow the opera- 

 tion if the process has l)een purely local. Tuberculous and 

 actinomycotic tumors sometimes become smaller and shrink 

 after the evacuation of their contents. 



