Marsupialization of a cyst of the nictitating membrane in three dogs.
BACKGROUND
Development of cysts has been reported as a potential complication after surgical repositioning of nictitating membrane gland protrusion using the conjunctival pocket technique. To the authors' knowledge, no treatment for these cysts has ever been published.


OBJECTIVE
This short case series describes a surgical technique of marsupialization as a treatment option for these cysts and proposes a pathogenesis for cyst formation.


METHODS
Three dogs were each referred for a unilateral subconjunctival mass-like lesion involving the bulbar side of the nictitating membrane. Complete ophthalmologic examination revealed a pink, translucent, soft, and nonpainful mass protruding from the bulbar surface of the nictitating membrane in all cases. Treatment consisted in marsupialization of the cyst on the palpebral surface of the nictitating membrane and was curative with no short-term postoperative complication and favorable long-term outcome for the three dogs. Histopathological findings were consistent with a lacrimal cyst.


CONCLUSIONS
Marsupialization appears to be a safe, simple, and effective treatment for nictitating membrane cyst secondary to surgical correction of gland prolapse using conjunctival pocket technique in dogs. Further studies on a larger number of cases are necessary to determine whether marsupialization is the technique of choice and to further investigate the pathophysiology of cyst formation after conjunctival pocket repositioning of prolapsed glands.
Clinique vétérinaire AQUIVET, Parc d'activités Mermoz, 19 avenue de la forêt, 33320, Eysines, France.
Charlotte
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9688-4490
C
Barbé
INP - ENVT, université de Toulouse, 23 chemin des Capelles - BP 87614, 31076, Toulouse, Cedex 03, France.|STROMALab UMR 5273 UPS EFS INSERM U1031, 1 avenue Jean Poulhes, 31403, Toulouse, France.
Isabelle
I
Raymond-Letron
Clinique vétérinaire SAINT-ROCH, 18 rue de Dompierre, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
Guillaume-Pierre
GP
Mias
Clinique vétérinaire SAINT-ROCH, 18 rue de Dompierre, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
Julien
J
Charron
Clinique vétérinaire AQUIVET, Parc d'activités Mermoz, 19 avenue de la forêt, 33320, Eysines, France.
Frédéric
F
Goulle
D000818:Animals; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009541:Nictitating Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary
canine; cyst; marsupialization; nictitating membrane; pocket technique