Computed Tomography Signs of Sinonasal Inflammation in Patients with Acute Dacryocystitis

Nasal and paranasal sinus abnormalities may be related to nasolacrimal duct obstructive disease but are strongly debated. Data of acute disease stage are lacking.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are correlations between radiologic signs of sinus inflammation and acute dacryocystitis (AD).

This cross-sectional controlled study was conducted at Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China from February 2021 to November 2023. Forty-four consecutive patients with AD and 50 consecutive patients with orbital tumors (the control group), who completed preoperative computed tomography scans, were enrolled to evaluate the extent of their inflammatory sinonasal disease by the modified Lund-Mackay score system.

The inflammation signs of the paranasal sinuses (total mean sinus scores, 95% CI [0.00, 2.00]; P < 0.001), namely the anterior ethmoid sinus(95% CI [0.00, 1.00]; P < 0.001), the posterior ethmoid sinus(95% CI [0.00, 0.00]; P = 0.003), the frontal sinus (95% CI [0.00, 0.00]; P = 0.02), and the ostiomeatal complex (P < 0.001) were more extensive in patients with AD when compared with the controls. The disease course was negatively correlated with the anterior ethmoid (P = 0.03) and frontal scores (P = 0.01). The symptom of eyelid swelling was positively correlated with the anterior ethmoid (P = 0.03), ostiomeatal complex (P = 0.004), and total sinus scores (P = 0.005).

Inflammatory sinus disease was found to be more frequent in patients with AD, which was gradually alleviated with the prolongation of the disease course. The mutual spread of inflammation particularly in the acute course may play an important role in lacrimal duct obstructive disease.