Ultrasound parameters of normal lacrimal sac and chronic dacryocystitis

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 172 - 175
• Main Authors: Machado, Marco Antonio de Campos, Silva, João Amaro Ferrari, Garcia, Eduardo Alonso, Allemann, Norma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Dacryocystitis - pathology; Female; Humans; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Nasolacrimal Duct - diagnostic imaging; Nasolacrimal Duct - pathology; OPHTHALMOLOGY; Organ Size; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Ultrasonography - methods; Lacrimal apparatus, ultrasonography; Lacrimal duct obstruction; Dacryocystitis; Aparelho lacrimal/ultrassonografia; Obstrução dos ductos lacrimais; Dacriocistite
• ISSN: 0004-2749; 1678-2925; 1678-2925
• DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20170042

To compared the ultrasound findings of the lacrimal sac between subjects with normal lacrimal systems those with chronic dacryocystitis. A retrospective study of 10 subjects with a normal lacrimal system (Group 1) and 10 with chronic dacryocystitis (Group 2) diagnosed according to B-mode ultrasound with a 10-MHz transducer and the direct-contact technique (AVISO, Quantel Medical) for lacrimal sac assessment. We analyzed the dimensions, features, and content of the sacs. Characteristics of the population: female: 6, Group 1; 8, Group 2; mean age 48.4 years (SD=19.9; range, 22-80 years), Group 1; 50.5 years (SD=15.5; range, 25-75 years), Group 2. The dimensions of the lacrimal sac were as follows: anteroposterior 1.86 and 10.99 mm in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, p<0.0001; vertical 9.79 and 14.13 mm in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, p=0.049. Qualitative evaluation of the lacrimal sac contents showed hypoechogenic content in Group 1 (10, 100%) and hyperechogenic punctiform content in Group 2 (10, 100%) with partial filling in seven cases (70%). Ultrasonography can differentiate normal lacrimal sacs from sacs compromised by chronic dacryocystitis, thus being useful as an adjunct to clinical examination and surgical planning.