title: The Role of Routine Biopsy of the Lacrimal Sac During Dacryocystorhinostomy Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of routine histopathological evaluation of the lacrimal sac wall when performing dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of the histology findings in lacrimal sac biopsies, taken routinely, in an external-approach DCR series. This is a single surgeon (RB), single pathologist (AG) consecutive series. The histopathology reports were reviewed and collated. Each patient's medical history and risk factors for malignancy were recorded. The surgeon documented any abnormal lacrimal sac appearance at the time of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient in this series of 245, in whom 254 histology specimens were taken, recorded a significant pathological result that was not anticipated from pre-operative assessment, or from the appearance of the lacrimal sac intra-operatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reported recommendation for routine histopathological evaluation of the lacrimal sac wall when performing DCR surgery is not supported by this consecutive series. The authors recommend histopathological evaluation only in the setting of pre-existing clinical suspicion of malignancy, or an abnormal intra-operative appearance of the lacrimal sac.
authors.affiliation: a Sydney Eye & Hand Hospital , Sydney , Australia .
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.affiliation: b Department of Ophthalmology , Royal Prince Alfred Hospital , Sydney , Australia .
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skippen
authors.affiliation: c Laverty Pathology , Sydney , Australia .
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.affiliation: a Sydney Eye & Hand Hospital , Sydney , Australia .|d Drummoyne Day Surgery Centre , Sydney , Australia , and.|e Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Dacryocystorhinostomy; histopathology; lacrimal sac biopsy