Congenital Lacrimal Fistula Associated With Down's Syndrome

Hereditary Lacrimal Fistula

“…Systemic associations with lacrimal fistulae, such as thalassemia, preauricular fistulae, hypospadias, a balanced 6p and 13q translocation, Down syndrome and VACTERL (vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac malformations, tracheo-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb anomalies) have been described in previous reports (Birchansky et al, 1990;Harrison et al, 2002;Jones & Wobing, 1978;Sullivan et al, 1992). However, the above abnormalities in association with lacrimal fistulae are very rare, and it remains to be proven by genetic or other methods why such associations exist.…”

Unilateral lacrimal fistula in a patient with uterus didelphys and renal agenesis

“…The most common concurrent abnormalities are reported to be associated with punctum and canaliculi [1,2]. However, recently there are reports on accompanying systemic development abnormalities such as preauricular fistulas [3], thalassemia [2,3], Down's syndrome [4], VACTERL syndrome [3], and ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft syndrome [5]. Most fistulas are unilateral and the most common localization is the inferonasal portion of the medial canthal tendon [6].…”

Bilateral congenital lacrimal fistula in down syndrome

“…reported five cases of Down's syndrome, all of which were unilateral and managed conservatively or with fistulectomy. None of the patients reported in these previous publications67 had associated nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction can be managed with probing and/or dacryocystorhinostomy depending on the age of the patient.…”

“…To our knowledge (recent PubMed search on Down syndrome), there is only one case with bilateral congenital lacrimal fistula reported by Keserü et al 6. Sullivan et al 7. reported five cases of Down's syndrome, all of which were unilateral and managed conservatively or with fistulectomy.…”