Nasolacrimal system: evaluation with gadolinium-enhanced MR dacryocystography with a three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-recalled technique.
The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) fast spoiled gradient-recalled (FSPGR) MR dacryocystography in patients with epiphora. Bilateral nasolacrimal systems of 19 patients suspected of having nasolacrimal canal obstruction were evaluated with MR dacryocystography. A sterile 0.9% NaCl solution containing 1:100 diluted gadolinium chelate was instilled into the bilateral conjunctival sacs of the patients. The 3D FSPGR sequence was used with 1.0-T scanner with the following parameters: TR 9.3 ms; TE 2 ms; flip angle 20; 256x224 matrix; 13- or 26-cm field of view; and 1-mm slice thickness. Seventeen patients had digital dacryocystography for comparison which we considered standard of reference. Thirty-four nasolacrimal systems were evaluated with MR and digital dacryocystography. Discrepancies between the findings of both methods were detected in 2 patients. The overall sensitivity of MR in detecting the obstruction was 100%. Magnetic resonance helped to determine the canalicular and ductal obstruction in 100% of the patients and the saccular obstruction in 80% of the patients. We conclude that 3D FSGR technique for MR dacryocystography is a reliable and noninvasive method in the evaluation of the obstruction level in the lacrimal system in patients with epiphora.
Department of Radiology, Medical School, Ankara University, Sihhiye, 06100 Ankara, Turkey.
Tuba
T
Karagülle
Ayşe
A
Erden
Ilhan
I
Erden
Güler
G
Zilelioğlu
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA