Computed tomography for guidance in the diagnosis and surgical correction of recurrent pediatric acute dacryocystitis

IMPORTANCE: This is the first retrospective study of the effect of computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis and surgical correction of recurrent pediatric acute dacryocystitis (PAD). OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of recurrent PAD and the impact of CT in guidance of surgical planning. METHODS: Medical histories, clinical manifestations, and CT results of 10 patients with recurrent PAD were reviewed. Etiologies and treatment effectiveness were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: CT revealed that three patients had congenital dacryocystocele with lacrimal sac cyst, enlargement of the nasolacrimal canal, and intranasal cyst of affected sides. After regression of local inflammation, marsupialization was performed. CT showed that four patients had PAD secondary to congenital nasolacrimal canal dysplasia; these patients exhibited normal upper portions of the nasolacrimal canals, but had stenotic or atretic middle and terminal segments. After improvement of local inflammation, endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was performed. Three patients had PAD secondary to congenital lacrimal sac diverticulum; after contrast injection, CT showed that the cysts at the lacrimal sac area were filled with contrast, and were connected to the normal lacrimal sac. After the topical infection was controlled, transcutaneous dacryocystorhinostomy was performed in combination with excision of the lacrimal sac diverticulum. No recurrence of PAD was detected at 6‐month follow‐up. INTERPRETATION: Causes of PAD include congenital dacryocystocele, congenital lacrimal sac diverticulum, or congenital nasolacrimal canal dysplasia. Marsupialization with endoscope, endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy, and transcutaneous dacryocystorhinostomy constitute distinct surgeries for PAD treatment. CT provides an important diagnostic function and facilitates selection of specific surgical approaches for recurrent PAD.