[Bilateral dacryocystography using digital subtraction technic for kinetic evaluation of the lacrimal passage]

For dacryocystography we used the following procedure: after bilateral intubation of either the inferior or superior canaliculi with two galactography tubes connected with an Y-adapter, aqueous contrast medium (Ultravist 370) was injected. The lacrimal pathways were then imaged with the digital subtraction technique (Siemens Polytron), as well as with conventional film. In cases of postsaccal stenosis, the relative delay of contrast medium passage--compared with the normal side--could be specified. A diverticulum of the canaliculus and a transitional cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac could be demonstrated with both techniques. For the purpose of the post-operative follow-up after dacryocystorhinostomy, bilateral digital dacryocystography is particularly helpful because of the good documentation provided on pathway kinetics. However, digital subtraction dacryocystography cannot fully replace conventional dacryocystography.