Objective:

To evaluate the preoperative tomographic characteristics of the nose and paranasal sinuses of children with chronic dacryocystitis.

Method:

Prospective, observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. CT scans of the paranasal sinuses of patients candidates for endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy were evaluated for two years. Demographic characteristics, radiological findings, inflammatory processes and anatomical variants were identified using the Lund-Mackay classification. Statistic analysis. Stata 10.0, descriptive analysis, Student's t: mean difference and χ2. Logistic studies to estimate the probability between variables.

Results:

27 men and 11 women (n = 38) were included. Of these, 22 had unilateral and 16 bilateral nasolacrimal duct involvement. Lund-Mackay score range: 2-20. Eleven patients had associated pathology. The most affected were anterior and maxillary ethmoidal sinus (69%), osteomeatal complex (68%), posterior ethmoidal (51%). Patients with severe rhinosinusitis are 12 times more likely to develop dacryocystitis than patients with < 12 points. Men presented greater severity, affectation, and clinical repercussion.

Conclusions:

There is radiological rhinosinusal involvement in dacryocystitis, which must be evaluated and treated preoperatively to avoid postoperative complications or reinfections.