Histological Characteristics of Patients with Chronic Dacryocystitis, Depending on the Presence of Advanced Dacryolithiasis.

Background: Dacryoliths (DL) are found in up to 18% of patients with chronic dacryocystitis (CDC). In particular, the role of neutrophil granulocytes in stone development needs to be clarified.

Material and methods: 40 histological specimens from patients with CDC and existing lacrimal sac ectasia were examined. For this purpose, sections of the medial saccus wall were obtained during a transcutaneous dacryocystorhinostomy. Twenty samples showed CDC without DL (group 1), 20 patients showed advanced dacryolithiasis (group 2). The histological criteria (inflammation, fibrosis, lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, neutrophil granulocytes) were scored (0 = not present; 1 = few; 2 = moderate; 3 = numerous/strongly pronounced).

Results: The gender ratio was balanced (1 : 1; 10 female and 10 male patients per group) and the age difference between groups 1 and 2 was not significant (median 53 vs. 56 y; p = 0.482). The histological parameters showed no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 (inflammation: 39/36, p = 0.292; fibrosis: 21/20, p = 0.385; lymphocytes: 37/32, p = 0.149; plasma cells: 25/24, p = 0.407; macrophages: 19/17, p = 0.152; neutrophil granulocytes: 10/13, p = 0.197).

Conclusions: The histological changes in the medial lacrimal sac wall are not dependent on the presence of dacryoliths. In particular, the presence of neutrophilic granulocytes is not increased in patients with long-standing dacryolithiasis.