Dacryocystoplasty: treatment of epiphora by means of balloon dilation of the obstructed nasolacrimal duct system.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment of epiphora due to acquired stenotic obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct system with dacryocystoplasty (DCP), in which balloon dilation is used to alleviate the obstruction.


METHODS
Twenty patients (21 eyes) with epiphora due to obstructing lesions at the saccular or subsaccular level were treated with DCP. The authors used a catheter with a balloon diameter of only 3 mm to prevent damage to the nasolacrimal duct system and a nontraumatizing guide wire. Stent placement was not considered necessary. Follow-up ranged from 14 to 70 weeks.


RESULTS
Cannulation was not possible in one case of complete obstruction. DCP was successfully performed in the other 20 cases. In 18 of these cases (90%), results comparable with those of dacryocystorhinostomy were achieved. No side effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
DCP is potentially the treatment of choice for epiphora due to acquired stenotic obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct system.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis de Tjongerschans, Heerenveen, The Netherlands.
A G
AG
Janssen
K
K
Mansour
G J
GJ
Krabbe
S
S
van der Veen
A H
AH
Helder
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015641:Radiography, Interventional