failed dacryocystorhinostomy due to retained silicone tube: a case report

purpose : to report a case of retained silicone tube case report : we report a case of 48-year-old iranian lady who referred to the department of otolaryngology with 18 years history of epiphora and intermittent mucopurulant discharge from the left lacrimal canaliculi. she had external dacryocystorhinostomy (dcr) with silicon stenting for epiphora 18 years ago but epiphora had continued after surgery. preoperative irrigation test revealed partial obstruction and in diagnostic nasal endoscopy the previous rhinostomy site was patent. she was operated with revision endoscopic dcr approach and an impacted 15 millimeters piece of silicon tube was removed from lacrimal sac. conclusion : this case should alert surgeons to the possibility of foreign bodies as a cause of persistent epiphora after dcr surgery.    iranian journal of ophthalmology 201022(4):80-83 © 2010 by the iranian society of ophthalmology