Question
A 1-month-old boy is brought to the physician by his mother because of a 2-week history of persistent watering of the eyes. On physical examination, palpation of the lacrimal sac causes tears to leak from the lacrimal punctum. The physician concludes that the most likely cause of the patient’s symptoms is the congenital obstruction of a duct. The duct that is most likely obstructed in this patient drains into which of the following structures?
| A. |
Inferior nasal meatus
|
| B. |
Sphenoethmoidal recess
|
| C. |
Pharyngeal recess
|
| D. |
Middle nasal meatus
|
Show Answer
[ads id=”53026″]
|
Correct Answer � A
Explanation
|
|
Answer A) Inferior nasal meatus
Explanation: This patient has congenital dacryostenosis, a condition characterized by obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct.
Inferior nasal meatus
-
The nasolacrimal duct drains the lacrimal sac into the inferior nasal meatus, which is located between the palatine process of the maxilla (nasal cavity floor) and the inferior nasal conchae.
-
Congenital dacryostenosis occurs in ~ 6% of newborns and manifests with persistent tearing.
-
Palpation of the lacrimal sac often results in tearing at the lacrimal punctum, as seen in this patient. Most cases resolve spontaneously by 6 months of age with only conservative management (e.g., lacrimal sac massage).
Sphenoethmoidal recess
Pharyngeal recess
-
The pharyngeal recess is a well-demarcated groove in the lateral aspect of the nasopharynx, located behind the torus tubarius.
-
This structure does not receive any drainage.
Middle nasal meatus
It is located between the inferior nasal conchae and the middle nasal conchae. It does not drain the nasolacrimal duct.
Like this:
Like Loading...
