Quantitative lacrimal scintigraphy after dacryocystorhinostomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate lacrimal drainage in patients who have undergone successful dacryocystorhinostomy using quantitative dacryoscintigraphy.


METHODS
This study included 72 eyes of 72 patients. There were 26 males and 46 females, with a mean age of 39.6 years (range, 8 to 67 years). The patients were subdivided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of 35 eyes with external dacryocystorhinostomy, group 2 consisted of 15 eyes with endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, and group 3 consisted of 22 eyes with conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy with a Jones tube. There was no epiphora in patients and the lacrimal drainage systems were patent by irrigation. The other normal eyes of the patients were evaluated as controls.


RESULTS
In groups 1 and 2, the mean T(1/2) values for the palpebral aperture were lower than those for normal eyes, and this difference was statistically significant (P < .01). In group 3, no significant difference was detected in the mean T(1/2) values for the palpebral aperture.


CONCLUSIONS
Tear flow was slower in patients who had had external and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, but conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy did not affect T(1/2) values for the palpebral aperture.
Zilelioglu
Güler
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Küçük
Ozlem
O
Tekeli
Oya
O
Günan
Fatih
F
Aras
Gülseren
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D013667:Technetium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013667:Technetium