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Lacrimal scintigraphy more reliable than dacryocystography in diagnosis of epiphora
Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;25(3):201-205.
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Scintigraphy more often correlates with clinical evaluation of epiphora compared with dacryocystography, which may be insufficient to identify physiological dysfunction of the lacrimal system.
In a retrospective analysis of 200 lacrimal systems in 107 patients, investigators noted delay on lacrimal scintigraphy in 80% of symptomatic eyes compared with 57% of eyes having an abnormal dacryocystography reading; only 33% of dacryocystography examinations revealed an anatomical abnormality.
Patients in the study were evaluated by both diagnostic methods if a clinical examination revealed delayed tear clearance but a patent lacrimal system. In a subpopulation of 20 asymptomatic eyes, lacrimal scintigraphy was abnormal in 64% of eyes in which the dacryocystography was normal.
"There was 59% and 28% agreement between main site and severity of delay, respectively. Among eyes with disagreement [lacrimal scintigraphy] demonstrated more proximal delay in 93%, and also tended to show greater severity," the study authors said.