Morphological Study of Removed Silicone Tube from Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To search the histopathologic change of the nasolacrimal duct after silicone tube intubation by the microscopic examination of removed silicone tube. METHOD: Sixty nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) patients (11 congenital and 49 acquired NLDO) operated by silicone tube intubation and conventional dacryocystorhinostomy were participated. Duration of silicone tube intubation and the length of the removed silicone tube were measured. Removed silicone tubes were stained with H and E to inspect cellular components and Alcian-blue to evaluate mucin contents. By the microscopic findings, all patients were classified to inflammatory and non-inflammatory group. Various factors contributing to occur inflammation were statistically evaluated by t-test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Frequencies of inflammatory group were 27.3% (3 cases) in congenital NLDO and 34.7% (17 cases) in acquired NLDO. Five cases of acquired NLDO group showed much inflammatory cells and bacterial colony and 32 cases (65.3%) showed squamous and columnar epithelial cells and mucin in three cases. Inflammatory response of the nasolacrimal duct was not related with duration, degree, location of NLDO, duration of silicone tube intubation and length of silicone tube. CONCLUSION: Re-epithelization and mucin formation of the nasolacrimal duct may be predicted after silicone tube intubation in NLDO patients without severe inflammation.