Magnetic resonance dacryocystography in the horse: A feasibility study

To provide a comprehensive anatomical description of the normal equine nasolacrimal duct using magnetic resonance imaging, and to develop a practical protocol for performing magnetic resonance dacryocystography (MRD) in horses.

The heads of ten fresh horse cadavers with no history of sinonasal or ophthalmologic disorders were used for this study.

An MRD technique was developed in this study, which consisted of two parts. In the first part, olive oil and gadolinium were compared as contrast medium, using five horses. Two concentrations of gadolinium were used: 0.25 mmol/mL and 0.5 mmol/mL. In the second part, the influence of different head recumbencies using olive oil as the sole contrast medium was studied in the remaining five horses.

Injection with olive oil resulted in better distention and a complete filling of the nasolacrimal duct (ND) in all horses. Injection of 0.25 mmol/mL of gadolinium resulted in incomplete filling of the ND, whereas injection of 0.5 mmol/mL of gadolinium resulted in slightly better filling of the duct. The nondependent duct showed better distention compared to the dependent duct when scanning in lateral recumbency. No differences were observed between ducts in a dorsal recumbency. The degree of distention in dorsal recumbency was slightly less than the degree of distention observed in the nondependent ND in lateral recumbency.

Magnetic resonance dacryocystography is a suitable technique for evaluating the nasolacrimal duct and can be performed during a normal magnetic resonance examination.