Congenital Lacrimal Sac Fistula

Chung, Yoon Jae; Kim, Soon Dong; Kim, Gene; Sohn, Byung Kyu

Abstract

Congenital lacrimal sac fistulas are relatively uncommon and are estimated to occur in 1 per 2000 birth. They consist of a dimple opening that leads to the lacrimal sac. Most of the fistulas are unilateral and are located inferonasally to the medial canthus. The patients may be asymptomatic and overlooked for some time after birth, or may demonstrate tearing from the fistula, the eye, or both. The treatment of those with symptoms such as epiphora and dacryocystitis is still controversial. In cases with nasolacrimal obstruction, performing dacryocystorhinostomy in addition to excision is appropriate. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether nasolacrimal obstruction is present before or during the operation in deciding treatment method. But in most cases, treatment is possible with excision alone. From September, 1999 to February, 2002 authors treated 3 cases of congenital lacrimal sac fistulas without nasolacrimal obstruction and good results were obtained by the method of fistulectomy alone.