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A Morphometric and Cellular Analysis Method for the Murine Mandibular Condyle
Published on: January 11, 2018
An anatomic and histologic study of the caruncle
S S Kathuria1, D Howarth, J J Hurwitz
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
Purpose:
To describe the histologic features of the caruncle and to determine its anatomic relationship to the common canaliculus.
Methods:
Specimens from preserved and fresh-frozen cadavers were studied histopathologically.
Results:
The average distance between the external surface of the caruncle and the common canaliculus was 0.85 mm, whereas the shortest distance measured was 0.50 mm. Several histologic abnormalities (oncocytic change, apocrine metaplasia, and microscopic stones) were identified in specimens that appeared clinically normal.
Conclusion:
Caution should be exercised when operations are performed on or near the caruncle to avoid inadvertent damage to the canalicular system.
