Relationship Between Lacrimal Bone Thickness and Lacrimal Sac in Chronic Dacryocystitis

Chronic inflammation in the lacrimal sac may lead to thickening of the surrounding bony tissues. This study aimed to assess the thickness of lacrimal bone surrounding the lacrimal sac, and the thickness of maxilla, based on the presence of purulent secretion in the lacrimal sac in patients who underwent EDCR.

Lacrimal bone thickness and the maximum and midpoint maxillary bone thickness of 70 patients (mean age of 49.07 years) who underwent EDCR, were assessed along 3 planes (upper, middle, and lower) using CT of the paranasal sinus. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the 1 who had purulent secretion in the lacrimal sac during the intraoperative period (Group 1) and another who did not have purulent secretion (Group 2).

No significant difference was detected between the 2 groups in terms of maximum and midpoint maxillary bone thickness. The increase in the thickness of lacrimal bone in Group 1 was statistically significant in all the 3 planes as compared to that in Group 2. Cutoff values for the thickness of the upper, middle, and lower plane of lacrimal bone were detected to be 0.710 mm, 0.685 mm, and 0.675 mm, respectively.

The presence of purulent secretion in the lacrimal sac, along with the detected increase in the thickness of the lacrimal bone, as assessed by CT, offers an insight on the lacrimal sac before the surgery.