A Case of Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Recurrent Dacryoliths after Dacryocystorhinostomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To present the morphological and chemical analysis of dacryoliths and review factors contributing to form dacryoliths with previous studies. METHODS: From a 58-year-old female patient operated with dacryocystorhinostomy, dacryoliths were obtained during the procedure and postoperative follow-up period. Morphological and microbial analysis of the dacryoliths was performed by culture and light microscopic examination. Various electrolytes in the dacryoliths were analyzed by flame atomic absorbable spectrometry(FAAS) for Na+ and K+ and by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICPAES) for Ca2+ and Mg2+. RESULTS: No bacterial and fungal organisms were cultured, but multiple bacterial colonies were found by H&E stain. Chemical analysis revealed mainly organic composition 97.91% and inorganic composition 2.09%. Inorganic composition was consisted with Ca2+ 0.82%, Na+ 0.76%, Mg2+ 0.27%, and K+ 0.24% in order. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent the recurrence of the nasolacrimal duct obstruction by the dacryoliths after dacryocystorhinostomy, pathogenesis of the dacryoliths formation may be studied with morphological and chemical analysis of the Dacryoliths.