Chronic dacryocystitis with spontaneous resolution of sac mucocele: fact or fiction

The purpose of this study is to highlight the rare possibility of spontaneous resolution of a lacrimal sac mucocele by means of a retrospective case note analysis. The authors identified 3 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and clinical and radiological evidence of mucocele. In all 3 cases, resolution of symptoms was reported prior to dacryocystorhinostomy. In each case, the mucocele was no longer palpable, and the patency of the nasolacrimal duct was confirmed by sac washout. A lacrimal sac mucocele may rarely rupture in the nose and resolve spontaneously. Although this is a rare outcome, lacrimal surgeons should be aware of this prospect to avoid unnecessary surgery and investigations. The authors recommend that lacrimal surgeons present spontaneous resolution as one of the possible outcomes in their patient information literature.