Use of ultrasound diagnostics in lacrimal sac diseases.

Ultrasonographic examinations of the lacrimal drainage system demonstrated that the Ultrascan System IV apparatus used was not able to represent the normal-size lacrimal canaliculi, the common canaliculus, the lower part of the nasolacrimal duct and the lacrimal ostium. It can be used routinely, however, in the diagnostics of diseases of the lacrimal sac and its surrounding tissue, for surgical indication and in order to examine the postoperative condition, in most cases without other expensive diagnostic methods. The advantages over dacryocystography are that it is simple, quick, and inexpensive, it can be used post-operatively immediately, the patient is not exposed to radiation, it can be used without any contrast medium, and it is useful when the common canaliculus is occluded.