[Tuberculous dacryocystitis].

BACKGROUND

Acute infection and inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac may complicate congenital obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. Acute dacryocystitis is uncommon later and tuberculosis is exceptionally responsible for it.

METHODS

A 4 1/2 year-old boy was admitted because he suffered from acute left dacryocystitis with fever and cervical adenitis. Involvement of both lacrymal gland and lymph node persisted despite antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy. Needle biopsy of the lymph node showed presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and excision revealed caseating granulomas. The tuberculin skin test was positive while pulmonary tuberculosis was discovered in the patient's father. The patient was successfully given izoniazid, rifampin for 9 months and pyrazinamide for 2. Drainage of the sac area was necessary after 1 month of treatment followed by dacryocystorhinostomy.

CONCLUSIONS

This rare case of tuberculous dacryocystitis permits to delineate the difficulties of ophthalmologic therapy.