Dacryops with dacryolithiasis in a dog

Abstract

Abstract Background A 10‐year‐old castrated male Maltese dog was presented with chronic swelling that had been present for at least 5 years in the medial canthus of the right eye (OD). Objectives To describe the treatment outcome of dacryops with dacryolithiasis. Methods Bilateral patency of the nasolacrimal system was confirmed by flushing of both upper and lower puncta. Ocular ultrasonography revealed a well‐defined, oval‐shaped, heterogeneous mass with several hyperechoic foci. Dacryocystorhinography revealed no connection between the mass and lacrimal canaliculus. Gentle blunt dissection of the fibrous connective tissue around the cystic mass was performed. The mass was removed, which intraluminally contained multiple calculi. Results Histopathologically, the cystic structure was lined by simple cuboidal epithelium and surrounded by smooth muscle actin positive myoepithelial cells consistent with dacryops derived from the lacrimal glandular ductal system. In addition, several spherical basophilic minerals were observed in the lumen, which were identified as dacryoliths. Conclusion Surgical removal of this dacryops with dacryolithiasis was curative without recurrence after four months.

Keywords

• dacryolithiasis
• dacryops
• ectopic lacrimal gland
• lacrimal system
• Maltese
• nasolacrimal cyst