Behavior and outcomes of 70 adult lacrimal sac mucoceles.

Purpose: To study the clinical profile and outcomes in adults with lacrimal sac mucoceles.

Methods

A retrospective, interventional study on consecutive adult patients with lacrimal sac mucoceles who underwent dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)/dacryocystectomy surgery. Primary outcome measure was subsidence of lacrimal sac swelling after intervention. Secondary outcome measure was anatomical patency of the lacrimal system.

Results

A total of 70 patients were studied, mean age of the group being 49.2 ± 13.5 years. Majority of the patients were female (n = 49; 70%) and all had unilateral disease. An appreciable number (n = 14; 20%) presented with acute dacryocystitis of which 6(8%) developed a lacrimal sac fistula. Encystment of the lacrimal sac mucocele was seen in 47 (67%) patients, 3(4%) developed preseptal cellulitis and 3(4%) needed imaging. Resolution of sac swelling after intervention was seen in 70 (100%) patients. Definitive management was DCR in 57 (81%) patients, of which anatomical patency was achieved in 55 (96%) patients, mean duration of follow up of the group being 138 ± 70.2 days. A trend to prefer adjuvants like Mitomycin-C and/or intubation was noted in 56 (98%) of patients.

Conclusions

Adult lacrimal sac mucocele is more commonly seen in females and unilaterally. Complications of this entity include encysted mucocele (67%), acute dacryocystitis (20%), lacrimal sac fistula (8%), and preseptal cellulitis (4%). It is essentially a clinical diagnosis and favourable outcomes are seen with DCR surgery.