Examination of Nasolacrimal Duct Morphometry Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip/Palate.

OBJECTIVE: The cleft lip/palate (CLP) deformity negatively affects the anatomy of the nasal cavity and maxilla. The effects of this deformity on the lacrimal system have been unidentified yet. This study aimed to evaluate the morphometric changes in the nasolacrimal duct using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with unilateral CLP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective bilateral measurements of the narrowest transversal diameters and the lengths of the nasolacrimal ducts were made for the affected and unaffected sides of 28 patients with CLP and 28 control patients, using the CBCT images. The measurements were statistically compared.

RESULTS: The mean narrowest transversal diameter of the nasolacrimal duct for the affected side of the patients with unilateral CLP was statistically significantly narrower than the unaffected side (P = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the control group and the affected and unaffected sides of patient group with unilateral CLP regarding the nasolacrimal duct diameter. The differences were not statistically significant among all groups regarding the mean nasolacrimal duct length.

CONCLUSION: The diameter of the nasolacrimal duct at the affected side of unilateral CLP was narrower than the unaffected side. According to this result, the CLP deformity can have an effect on the nasolacrimal duct diameter. However, CLP might not affect the nasolacrimal duct length.