title: Conjunctival cytologic features in patients with unilateral primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cytologic features of conjunctival epithelium in patients with unilateral primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) using impression cytology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with unilateral PANDO for at least 1 year were enrolled in this study. The healthy eyes of the patients are assessed as control group. All patients were subjected to ophthalmic surface examination with conjunctival impression cytology analysis. Squamous metaplasia and goblet cell density were graded according to Nelson grading system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 52.7 ± 16.3 (range 21-70) years. The mean period for complaints of epiphora was 3.2 ± 2.4 (range 1-8) years. The eye with PANDO had a mean squamous metaplasia grade of 2.38 ± 0.59 versus 1.91 ± 0.82 for control eyes (p = 0.011). The mean grade of goblet cell density was 2.0 ± 0.51 for eyes with PANDO and 2.38 ± 0.65 for control eyes (p = 0.013). There was no statistically significant correlation between conjunctival cytological features in terms of squamous metaplasia and goblet cell density grades and duration of epiphora complaint (r = -0.04, p = 0.82; r = 0.09, p = 0.66, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PANDO may cause alterations in conjunctival impression cytology. Successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgeries will help to protect ocular surface health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ozturk.nilay@gmail.com.|, Alacaatlı Mah. Sinpas Inceklife No:2/5, Ankara, Turkey. ozturk.nilay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilicarslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akcay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conjunctival impression cytology; Epiphora; Nasolacrimal duct obstruction