Cytologic Study of Removed Silicone Tube in Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Patients with the Liquid-based Thin Layer Preparation Technique

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study investigated the cytological findings of the nasolacrimal duct by using the removed silicone tube in patients of nasolacrimal duct obstruction according to the surgical technique. METHODS: Cytologic study was performed in 49 eyes of 41 patients who underwent silicone tube intubation or dacryocystorhinostomy from May 2002 to April 2003. By using Thin Prep(R) 2000 (CYTYC. USA), the cells around the removed silicone tube inserted in the operation were observed by light microscope. The patients were classified into the silicone tube intubation group and the dacryocystorhinostomy group. Differences of observed cytological results were analyzed by the Pearson Chi-Square test. RESULTS: From the cytological results by the type of operation, there was no statistical difference between the silicone tube intubation group and the dacryocystorhinostomy group, and the frequency of hyphae detection was higher in the dacryocystorhinostomy group than in the silicone tube intubation group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the dacryocystorhinostomy patient group, the frequent detection of fungus suggests a possible relationship with the pathogenesis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Further studies on the prevention and treatment of fungal infection are needed.