J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2005 Feb;46(2):191-195.

Clinical Evaluation and Classification of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Site by Dacryocystography

• Kim JS
• Ahn M

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the outcome and therapeutic effectiveness of dacryocystography in patients with epiphora. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 270 patients (385 eyes) who had undergone dacryocystography for epiphora from 1998 to 2002. The factors assessed were age, sex, duration of epiphora, incidence rate of obstruction site of lacrimal system, reliability of dacryocystography as a diagnostic method, correlation of syringing with dacryocystography, correlation of probing with dacryocystography. RESULTS: The incidence rate of lacrimal system obstruction on dacryocystography was 74% (285 eyes). The most common site was nasolacrimal duct (138 eyes, 48.4%), followed by sac (78 eyes, 27.4%), common canaliculus (51 eyes, 17.9%), and superior and inferior canaliculus (18 eyes, 6.3%). Dacryocystography showed 74% sensitivity and 87% specificity (p<0.01). The results of syringing and probing correlates poorly with the results of dacryocystography. CONCLUSIONS: Dacryocystography is a useful method to assess the lacrimal passage system, and the obstruction site so that therapy can be accurately planned, particularly in patients with epiphora.

Keyword

Dacryocystography; Epiphora

MeSH Terms

Classification*
Humans
Incidence
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases
Nasolacrimal Duct*
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity