J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 May;51(5):751-757.

Dacryocystocele in Adult: A Report of Five Cases

• Lee JH
• Moon SW
• Shin YW
• Lee YJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report the clinical findings and the treatments of patients with dacryocystocele, presenting as an uncommon mass in the medial canthal area of adults.
CASE SUMMARY
Five patients, diagnosed with dacryocystocele, complained of epiphora and mucopurulent discharge and were found to have a medial canthal mass. Four of these patients presented with symptoms of acute dacryocystitis. One patient underwent repeated endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (endonasal DCR) with silicone implantation, but the epiphora returned a few months after the treatment. The patient then received external dacryocystorhinostomy (external DCR) with silicone implantation. Two patients experienced recurrence after the first endonasal DCR and, therefore, received repeat endonasal DCR with silicone implantation via a maximum excision of the enlarged lacrimal sac. One patient underwent external DCR with silicone implantation due to acute inflammation with chronic dacryocystitis, and one attempted conservative treatment after refusing any surgical procedure but suffered a relapse. In the surgical cases, no patients experienced recurrence after the final procedure, and they all had a favorable course during the 6 to 14 months of follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
Dacryocystocele in adults always requires a surgical procedure. Additional maximum excision of the lateral wall of an enlarged lacrimal sac could be performed to reduce the possibility of recurrence.

Keyword

Dacryocystocele; Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy; External dacryocystorhinostomy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Dacryocystitis
Dacryocystorhinostomy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Inflammation
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases
Recurrence
Silicones
Silicones

Figure

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  Figure 1. Contrast-enhanced orbital CT scans show a cystic mass that extends the bony nasolacrimal duct of the right eye. (A&B) Axial and coronal images at the first visit (white arrow: dacryocystocele).

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  Figure 2. Transnasal endoscopic photograph of large and round nasal ostium at 2 weeks postoperatively.

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  Figure 3. Axial view of contrast-enhanced orbital CT scans. (A) Ruptured cystic mass in the medial canthal area of the right eye. (B) Axial scan shows a septated large cystic mass after 4 months of conservative treatment of the right eye (white arrow: dacryocystocele).

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  Figure 4. Sagittal (A) and coronal (B) scans of the contrast-enhanced orbital CT show cystic mass that extends the bony nasolacrimal duct of the left eye (white arrow: dacryocystocele).

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  Figure 5. The schematic cross sectional diagram of opening of the lacrimal sac after its excision during dacryocystorhinostomy. (A) Conventional excision of lacrimal sac. (B) A novel method; this opening is much larger than the conventional excision. It needs excision more at the edge of the opening (dark blue line). It gives good passage of tear in lacrimal system. The surface tension of B is lower than of A. (blue half circle: tear; black line: medial wall of lacrimal sac; green line: lateral wall of middle septum; red arrow: surgical ostium of the lacrimal sac; asterisk: nasal space).

Reference

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