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Comparative endonasal analysis of the inferior lateral wall of the nasal fossae in adults with and without epiphora
Author(s) -
HUBAULT B,
VALLE D,
MEROL JC,
ARNDT C,
DUCASSE A
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.t026.x
Subject(s) - medicine , meatus , stenosis , lateral wall , anatomy , duct (anatomy) , surgery , radiology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Purpose The development of endonasal dacryocysto‐rhinostomia is associated with the advent of nasal video endoscopia which enables a perfect visualization of the surgical site. As the inferior turbinate bones are close to the lacrimonasal duct orifice at the level of Hasner’s valvula, anatomic variations of endonasal structures could be associated with the occurrence of epiphora. Methods The results of nasal endoscopia between a group of adult patients with epiphora (n=35) and a control group of patients (n=19) without epiphora were compared. The endoscopic examination concentrated on changes of the inferior part of the nasal fossae and particularily on the inferior meatus and inferior turbinate bones. A non parametric Mann Whitney test was performed to compare the findings in the two groups. Results Neither the edema of the inferior turbinate bones nor the visibility of the inferior meatus were associated with epiphora due to lacrimonasal duct stenosis (avec p >0.05). It appeared that there are major anatomic variations of the nasal fossae between two patients but also between either side of the same patient. The lack of difference observed between the two groups of patients could be due to the major anatomic variations observed in the nasal fossae. Conclusion No particular correlation between anatomical changes of the lateral wall of the nasal fossae and the existence of lacrimonasal duct stenosis was found. However it remains essential to perform preoperative nasal endoscopy in order to detect a possible cause of lacrimonasal duct stenosis and thus evaluate the feasibility of surgery.