title: Bilateral congenital lacrimal fistulae: a case report.
abstract: A congenital lacrimal fistula is a rare developmental anomaly, usually unilateral. While it is often asymptomatic, some patients present with epiphora or discharge. We report the case of a 4-year-old boy with bilateral lacrimal fistulae. No other systemic, nasal, or ocular anomalies were found. In the absence of significant symptoms, we decided on a course of observation. In this article, we discuss the embryologic basis of congenital lacrimal fistulae, as well as the typical presentation and possible treatment modalities. The presence of a lacrimal fistula is an indication to search for a variety of underlying systemic and ocular anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Christin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed