Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2004 Nov;47(11):1188-1191.

Endoscopic Marsupialization of Nasolacrimal Duct Cyst Complicated by Cheek Abscess in Child without Previous Dacryocystitis

• Hong JH
• Park CS
• Lee DH
• Cho KJ

Abstract

A nasolacrimal duct cyst is an uncommon condition usually treated by ophthalomologists. When there is proximal one-way obstruction at the level of the valve of Rosenmuller or distal obstruction at the level of Hasner's valve, a cystic swelling at the medial canthus or a nasal cyst develops. This occurs because the nasolacrimal duct is surrounded by a bone and it is natural for the expanding cyst to decompress through the soft tissue nasally or at the medial canthus. A triad of 1) cystic medial canthal mass ; 2) nasolacrimal duct dilatation ; and 3) a contiguous nasal cavity mass is diagnostic of nasolacrimal duct cyst on computed tomogram scans. We experienced a case in which the cheek cellulitis as well as the maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis were developed from an infected nasolacrimal duct cyst. This case was developed during the childhood of the patient, who had no history of dacryocystitis or dacryocele. Computed tomogram showed typical findings of the infected nasolacrimal duct cyst expanding to the cheek. After endoscopic marsupialization of the nasolacrimal duct cyst, symptoms and signs of the infected cyst and sinusitis were rapidly resolved. Thus, we report this case with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Nasolacrimal duct; Cysts; Endoscopes

MeSH Terms

Abscess*
Cellulitis
Cheek*
Child*
Dacryocystitis*
Dilatation
Endoscopes
Ethmoid Sinus
Ethmoid Sinusitis
Humans
Nasal Cavity
Nasolacrimal Duct*
Sinusitis