OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnostic and therapeutic database for congenital dacryocystoceles. STUDY DESIGN/ METHODS: Retrospective case study of 10 patients with dacryocystoceles treated in an academic integrated tertiary care practice. Management and outcomes are compared to previous reports in the literature. RESULTS: Between the years 1990 and 2001, 10 patients were diagnosed with dacryocystoceles. Seven were females, and 3 were males. Age ranged from 1 to 75 days. Nine of 10 had a unilateral dacryocystocele, and 1 had bilateral dacryocystoceles. Epiphora was reported in 8 patients. Preoperatively, dacryocystitis, facial cellulitis, or both were present/developed in 2 patients. Symptoms of airway obstruction were present in 3 neonates. Surgery was performed in 9 of 10 patients and was a combined ophthalmology/otolaryngology surgery in 7 cases. Two patients were treated with probing only. Intranasal cysts were identified in all 7 patients who underwent a combined approach. Three of 7 patients had bilateral intranasal cysts. Follow-up ranged from 9 months to 10 years (mean, 5 years). Complete resolution was observed in 9 patients. One patient had postoperative nasolacrimal duct obstruction 2 months postoperatively, presenting with mucopurulent drainage and cellulitis. The existing literature often suggests conservative management as a treatment option. CONCLUSION: True dacryocystoceles are a relative rarity. The literature describes a variable natural course of these lesions with resultant controversy in their management. The current results demonstrate successful treatment in 6 of 7 patients with an early combined surgical approach and 2 of 2 patients treated by probing alone. The high failure rate with conservative management, reported in the literature, supports early surgical intervention.
OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnostic and therapeutic database for congenital dacryocystoceles. STUDY DESIGN/ METHODS: Retrospective case study of 10 patients with dacryocystoceles treated in an academic integrated tertiary care practice. Management and outcomes are compared to previous reports in the literature. RESULTS: Between the years 1990 and 2001, 10 patients were diagnosed with dacryocystoceles. Seven were females, and 3 were males. Age ranged from 1 to 75 days. Nine of 10 had a unilateral dacryocystocele, and 1 had bilateral dacryocystoceles. Epiphora was reported in 8 patients. Preoperatively, dacryocystitis, facial cellulitis, or both were present/developed in 2 patients. Symptoms of airway obstruction were present in 3 neonates. Surgery was performed in 9 of 10 patients and was a combined ophthalmology/otolaryngology surgery in 7 cases. Two patients were treated with probing only. Intranasal cysts were identified in all 7 patients who underwent a combined approach. Three of 7 patients had bilateral intranasal cysts. Follow-up ranged from 9 months to 10 years (mean, 5 years). Complete resolution was observed in 9 patients. One patient had postoperative nasolacrimal duct obstruction 2 months postoperatively, presenting with mucopurulent drainage and cellulitis. The existing literature often suggests conservative management as a treatment option. CONCLUSION: True dacryocystoceles are a relative rarity. The literature describes a variable natural course of these lesions with resultant controversy in their management. The current results demonstrate successful treatment in 6 of 7 patients with an early combined surgical approach and 2 of 2 patients treated by probing alone. The high failure rate with conservative management, reported in the literature, supports early surgical intervention.
Authors: Showkat A Showkat; Mohammad Lateef; Asif A Wani; Shafqat A Lone; Kanwaljeet Singh; Iffat Yousuf Journal: Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2009-06-14