title: Role of Histomorphology and Chronic Inflammation Score in Chronic Dacryocystitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diseases of lacrimal drainage system account for nearly 3% of visits to eye clinic. Chronic dacryocystitis is a frequently encountered disorder among these patients. Histomorphology of specimens obtained after Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a pertinent indicator of prognostic outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate histopathology of specimens obtained after DCR and to elucidate patterns and score of chronic inflammation encountered.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted for a period of one year. Total of 50 patients who were clinically diagnosed as Chronic Dacryocystitis and underwent DCR were included. Following DCR, specimens of lacrimal sac, nasal mucous membrane and nasal bone were collected. Histopathological slides were examined for chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis and capillary proliferation and were graded according to severity, in each specimen. A Chronic Inflammation Score (CIS) was recorded for each case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of patients was 39.04±14.22 years and their age ranged between 13 and 62 years. There were 28 (56%) females and 22 (44%) males in the study group. The nasal bone did not reveal any abnormality in any case. The nasal mucous membrane showed mild chronic inflammatory cell infiltration in 46 (92%) cases and moderate degree in 4 (8%) patients. Chronic inflammation with granulation tissue formation was noted in lacrimal sacs of all patients. The CIS revealed that 14 (28%) cases belonged to "mild" group, 26 (52%) to "moderate" group and 10 (20%) to "severe" category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inclusion of CIS in histomorphological evaluation of DCR specimens is recommended since it is one of the parameters that influence course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, ESI PGIMSR , Manicktala, Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Sudipta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Medical College , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Senjuti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, RG Kar Medical College , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Manas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Demonstrator, Department of Pathology, NRS Medical College , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Debashis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pal
keywords: Chronic dacryocystitis; Chronic inflammation score; Dacryocystorhinostomy; Histomorphology