Lacrimal sac dacryolith

Abstract

Dacryolith are concretions observed in any part of nasolacrimal system, but stones within the lacrimal ductules are rare. Dacryolith are usually comprised of organic material, proteins and mucoproteins with approximately 20% amino acid content, epithelial cells and other debris. The clinical presentation and chemical composition of the dacryolith are variable. We report the case of lacrimal ductular dacryolith in a 10-year-old girl who presented with complaints of discharge of hard stone like material from the left eye. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis were carried out to find the chemical composition of the stone. The results showed 65 kDa protein indicating the presence of albumin and high amount of calcium carbonate in the stone substantiating the presence of albumin in lacrimal sac.

Keywords

• calcium carbonate
• dacryolith
• lacrimal gland