Comparative study of the clinical profile of chronic dacryocystitis and chronic rhinosinusitis after external dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical profile of patients with chronic dacryocystitis (CDC) with and without associated chronic rhinosinusopathies who had been submitted to external dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR). METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, and longitudinal study that included all patients diagnosed with CDC who were submitted to EDCR at the Antonio Pedro University Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups, with and without rhinosinusopathies (Group I and Group II, respectively). The following variables were assessed to compare the Group I and Group II: age, ethnicity, epiphora, discharge by expression of the lacrimal sac, duration of the CDC, and previous history of CDC exacerbation. RESULTS: The study included a total of 78 patients, 22 patients (28.2%) in Group I and 56 patients (71.8%) in Group II. The mean age was 64.3 (±19.7) years. In Group I and II predominated elderly, female, and White (p=0.93, p=0.38, p=0.77). In relation to the clinical characteristics, most of the patients presented epiphora and discharge by compression of the lacrimal sac in both Groups (p=0.61, p=0.44). In relation to a previous history of exacerbations of the CDC, six patients in Group I and four patients in Group II presented it as purulent discharge (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Chronic rhinosinusopathies may favor episodes of exacerbations of chronic dacryocystitis in particular with the presence of purulent discharge.