title: Measurement of Lacrimal Sac Fossa Using Orbital Computed Tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical usefulness of measuring the lacrimal sac fossa length using orbital computed tomography in normal Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively evaluated 140 patients (70 males and 70 females) who underwent orbital computed tomography at Guro Hospital and who had no history of orbital disease or orbital trauma. Computed tomography scans of the right orbit, including the proportion of the lacrimal bone and maxillary bone that comprise the lacrimal sac fossa, were evaluated at 3 different axial planes (lower, middle, and upper levels). Additionally, the mid-point thickness and maximum thickness of the maxillary bone were measured. Finally, the authors also evaluated the relationship between nasal bone height and maxillary bone thickness in the lacrimal sac fossa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillary bone thickness in the lacrimal sac fossa was thicker in males than in females at mid-point thickness and maximum thickness (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the size of the lacrimal sac fossa and the proportion of the maxillary bone between males and females.In comparisons between maxillary cross-sections, bone thickness was greater toward the upper level of the lacrimal sac fossa (P = 0.008), and the proportion of the maxillary bone was also greater (P = 0.006).Aging had a significant positive correlation with maxillary bone thickness at all 3 axial planes (P < 0.05), but there was no relationship between age and maxillary bone proportion. Nasal bone height and maxillary bone thickness were also not significantly related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comprising the lacrimal sac fossa, the maxillary bone accounted for a bigger proportion than the lacrimal bone. Male maxillary bone thickness was greater than female thickness. The authors also observed that maxillary bone thickness increased toward the upper areas of the lacrimal sac fossa and with increasing subject age. Understanding the form and variation of a normal lacrimal sac fossa is helpful for preparing for a successful osteotomy with endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dongwan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jinhwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Hwa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sehyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult