Cytopuncture microbiopsy during transcanalicular endoscopic lacrimal duct recanalization: A novel approach

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To describe the cytopuncture microbiopsy (CM) technique performed during transcanalicular endoscopic lacrimal duct recanalization (TELDR) in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) as an alternative to open biopsy, the standard method used in collecting specimen.@*Methods@#This is a noncomparative, interventional case series with histopathologic correlation. Patients diagnosed with complete PANDO who underwent TELDR with balloon dacryoplasty and silicone intubation with CM at University of Santo Tomas Hospital from October 2014 to January 2017 were included.@*Results@#Twenty (20) tissue specimens from the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct were obtained from 18 patients. There were 16 females and 2 males included in the study. Mean age was 57.5 years. All specimens revealed few clusters of benign epithelial cells with few degenerated mononuclear cells and lymphocytes, and singly scattered lymphocytes that are set in fibrinous background. Tissue cytology studies were negative for malignant cells.@*Conclusion@#CM is a minimally invasive procedure that offers an alternative to open biopsy technique that can be done routinely during TELDR.