Diagnostic potentialities of ultrasound in primary canaliculitis
Atkova E.L.¹, Nadtochy A.G.², Yartsev V.D.¹, Root A.O.<sup>1

1</sup> The Scientific Research Institute of Eye Diseases, Moscow
² Central Research Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow

Chronic canaliculites are a group of inflammatory disorders of lacrimal ducts. Causative agents of canaliculitis are Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Actinomyces israelii. Treatment approach is determined by the presence of concretions in a lacrimal duct. Conservative treatment of canaliculitis without concretions is effective in 100%. Canaliculitis with concretions requires surgery (ductotomy and curettage). Surgical outcomes depend on total concretion removal. Ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive imaging of lacrimal ducts in canaliculites.
Aim. To assess diagnostic value of ultrasound in canaliculites.
Patients and methods. 36 patients (38 cases) with chronic canaliculitis were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent standard ophthalmic and dacryological examination which included dye disappearance test, lacrimal irrigation, nasal endoscopy, multislice computer tomography with lacrimal duct contrast, and lacrimal duct ultrasonography. Ultrasonography was performed using MyLabTwice ultrasound system (Esaote, Italy) with linear transducers (8–13 or 10-22 MHz). In 6 patients (6 cases), no lacrimal duct concretions were identified; these patients received conservative treatment. In 30 patients (32 cases), lacrimal duct concretions were identified; these patients underwent ductotomy and curettage.
Results. Conservative treatment resulted in the complete recovery in 4 patients and recurrences in 2 patients. Surgery resulted in the complete recovery in 26 patients (86.7%) and recurrences in 2 patients (13.35%). Ultrasound demonstrated that recurrences occurred after incomplete removal of lacrimal duct concretions.
Conclusions. Ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic technique in canaliculites which helps to determine indications and to monitor treatment efficacy.

Key words: canaliculitis, concretions, ultrasonography, actinomyces, actinolisat, canaliculotomy.

For citation: Atkova E.L., Nadtochy A.G., Yartsev V.D., Root A.O. Diagnostic potentialities of ultrasound in primary canaliculitis // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2016. № 4. P. 191–196.