[Preoperative dacryocystography in patients with epiphora]

In this retrospective study 56 dacryocystographies (DCG) were performed preoperatively in 50 patients with epiphora, due to obstruction in the lacrimal drainage system. We found DCG to be an easy and sufficient examination of patients with uncomplicated epiphora without suspicion of tumour. Tumours in the lacrimal drainage system are rare, and CT-scan or MR-imaging as a routine examination is not indicated. DCG provides a fair prediction regarding success rate of the dacryocystorhinostomy operation (DCR). We found the DCR to be successful in 91.7% when the obstruction was located distally, but only in 45.5% when the obstruction was in the canaliculi. Further investigations are necessary to clarify whether higher success rates after surgery can be obtained in patients with canalicular obstruction by using the DCG-findings more specifically when planning operation type.