Microdebrider assisted endoscopic marsupialization of congenital intranasal nasolacrimal duct cysts

Abstract

Objective: To provide information on the clinical characteristics and management of an uncommon congenital nasolacrimal system anomaly, intranasal nasolacrimal duct cyst.

Methods: Three patients treated with microdebrider assisted endoscopic marsupialization for intranasal nasolacrimal duct cysts were included in this study. Management and outcomes are compared to previous reports in the literature.

Results: Patients were presented in between 2007 and 2010. Diagnosis was made by clinical observation and endoscopic nasal examination. The first patient is a 1 year old child with congenital dacryocystocele presented as a right medial canthal mass and ipsilateral intranasal cyst. The second patient is a 60 days old child presented with nasal obstruction and feeding difficulty who was found to have bilateral intranasal cystic masses. The third patient was a 6 days old newborn with respiratory distress, whose nasal endoscopy revealed bilateral choanal atresia and left side intranasal cyst. All three cases were treated with nasal endoscopic marsupialization and no recurrence of symptoms and physical findings were found.

Conclusions: Intranasal nasolacrimal duct cysts may lead to nasal obstruction, respiratory distress and feeding difficulty. An otorhinolaryngologist should be consulted, as nasal endoscopy is fundamental for diagnosis. Microdebrider assisted endoscopic marsupialization is a safe and curative treatment.