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[Dacryoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of tear flow disturbances]
K Chmielowski1, J Pietrzykowski, E Dziuk
1Ośrodka Medycyny Nuklearnej Centralnego Szpitala Klinicznego WAM w Warszawie.
Aim Of The Study:
Presentation of dacryoscintigraphic method.
Material And Methods:
In 221 lacrimating patients dacryoscintigraphy was performed using sterile 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate instilled with a micropipette into the conjunctival sac of both eyes and using a small gamma camera with high resolution collimator. Serial scintigrams of the lacrimal ducts were saved in computer's memory, inspected visually, and processed according to clinical computer programme.
Results:
In 221 lacrimating patients the results are presented illustrating normal lacrimal duct patency and tear flow as well as the results revealing partial or complete lack of patency (blockade) of the ducts making tear flow difficult or impossible.
Conclusions:
Dacryoscintigraphy seems to be a sensitive and reliable method imaging tear flow disturbances in persons with lacrimation (epiphora). The method is safe, non-invasive and it is the only truly physiological method for the assessment of lacrimal duct patency and tear flow. It is easy to perform both in inpatients and outpatients. It facilitates the diagnosis of lacrimation cause and simplifies the verification of the surgical management results and conservative treatment.