Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.54(7) > 1009411

Sung and Kyeong: Lacrimal Gland Ductulitis: Clinical Features and Management

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the clinical characteristics and management of a group of patients who had infection of the lacrimal gland ductules.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of 12 patients who had infection of the lacrimal gland ductules and were managed at Saevit Eye Hospital from June 2010 to May 2012.

Results

The patients’ mean age was 31.8 ± 17.7 years, and 7 were male and 5 were female. Common symptoms were a painful, swelling mass with mucous discharge (8 eyes) and conjunctival injection (4 eyes) at the lateral canthal area. All pa-tients underwent surgical intervention by incision and curettage. Eleven patients (91.7%) had typical sulfur granule of acti-nomyces, and 8 patients (66.7%) had many cilia in the expressed debris from the ductule. All patients had resolution of symptoms after the procedure and showed no recurrence.

Conclusions

Infective lacrimal gland ductulitis should be considered when a painful swelling mass with mucous discharge at the lateral canthal area is present. Surgical intervention by incision and curettage can be attempted preferentially as a minimally-invasive treatment option.

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Figure 1.
(A) Patient referred with painful lid swelling, persistent temporal conjunctival injection, and chronic mucopurulent dis-charge from the lacrimal gland ductule. (B) Many cilia in the expressed debris from the affected ductule.
jkos-54-1001f1.tif
Figure 2.
Light microscopic photograph of expressed debris specimen shows (A) necrotic tissue debris consistent with dacryolith and cilia (HE stain, ×40) (B) Multiple foci of Actinomyces organisms (GMS stain, ×200).
jkos-54-1001f2.tif
Table 1.
Demographics and clinical presentation and treatment of 12 cases of lacrimal gland ductulitis
Case Number Sex/Age Affected Area Symptoms Treatment Operative & Histologic findings Surgical outcome / F/U periods (months)
1 F/25 Left Painful lid swelling I & C Sulfur granule No recurrence / 30
2 M/43 Right Painful lid swelling I & C Sulfur granule No recurrence / 27
3 F/13 Left Lid mass I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 21
4 M/42 Right Lid mass I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 20
5 F/14 Left Lid mass I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 20
6 M/39 Left Painful lid swelling I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 18
7 M/44 Right Conjunctival injection I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 17
8 M/41 Left Painful lid swelling I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 16
9 M/8 Left Conjunctival injection I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 13
10 F/31 Left Conjunctival injection I & C Sulfur granule No recurrence / 12
11 F/31 Right Pus discharge I & C Granuloma No recurrence / 9
12 M/50 Left Conjunctival injection I & C Sulfur granule, cilia No recurrence / 7

I & C = Incision & Curettage.

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