PURPOSE To investigate the microstructure of the lacrimal canaliculus and the characteristics of lacrimal canalicular diseases by 80-MHz ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). METHODS This study included 33 participants: 20 normal subjects (40 eyes), 2 patients with chronic lacrimal canaliculitis (4 eyes), 10 patients with chronic dacryocystitis (16 eyes), and 1 patient with lacrimal punctum atresia (2 eyes). All participants underwent 80-MHz UBM; disease-specific features were noted. RESULTS On 80-MHz UBM of the lacrimal canaliculi (vertical section) in normal subjects, low echo of the lacrimal canalicular lumen and high echo of the lacrimal canalicular wall were observed. The uniform low echo near the wall was the mucosal epithelium. The outermost layer of medium-to-high echo was the subepithelial elastic fibrous layer. In the horizontal section, the lumen was continuous. Two linear high echoes parallel to the canalicular wall could be observed at the center of the lacrimal canaliculus, which were sometimes attached and sometimes separated. When separated, the center of the lacrimal canaliculus was a low echo area (lumen). Lacrimal canaliculitis (vertical section) showed obvious ectasia of the lacrimal canalicular lumen, with a high echo mass shadow, which might have been calculi, and uneven thickness of the mucosal epithelium with a slightly high echo shadow. In the horizontal section, the lumen varied in size with clear boundaries of medium and high echoes. The central linear high echoes of the lumen were absent, and the echoes of the mucosal epithelium were discontinuous. In chronic dacryocystitis, the lacrimal canalicular lumen was extensively enlarged, with continuous echoes and uniform thickness of the mucosal epithelium and homogeneous patches of slightly higher echoes. Lacrimal punctum atresia indicated that the lacrimal canaliculus existed in both eyes and its structure was normal. CONCLUSIONS The 80-MHz UBM is a new non-invasive technique that can be used for clear visualization of the fine structure of the lacrimal canaliculus, including the mucosal epithelium and subepithelial elastic fiber layer. The use of this approach will improve understanding of the hierarchical structure of the lacrimal canaliculi and provide a comprehensive basis for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment plan in patients with lacrimal passage diseases.

中文翻译：

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80 MHz超声生物显微镜对泪道疾病的特征：一项观察性研究。

目的通过80MHz超声生物显微镜（UBM）研究泪小管的显微结构和泪小管疾病的特征。方法该研究包括33名参与者：20名正常受试者（40眼），2例慢性泪小管炎（4眼），10例慢性泪囊炎（16眼）和1例泪点闭锁（2眼）。所有参与者都进行了80 MHz的UBM；注意到疾病的特定特征。结果在正常受试者的泪小管（垂直截面）的80 MHz UBM上，观察到泪小管腔的低回声和泪小管壁的高回声。壁附近均匀的低回声是粘膜上皮。中高回声的最外层是上皮下弹性纤维层。在水平部分，流明是连续的。在泪小管的中心可以观察到两个平行于小管壁的线性高回波，它们有时是附着的，有时是分开的。当分开时，泪小管的中心是低回声区（管腔）。泪小管眼炎（垂直切面）显示出泪小管腔明显的扩张，回声质量阴影高，可能是结石，粘膜上皮厚度不均匀，回声阴影稍高。在水平部分，管腔大小变化，具有中等和高回声的清晰边界。腔的中央线性高回声不存在，粘膜上皮的回声不连续。在慢性泪囊炎中，泪小管腔广泛扩大，具有连续的回声，粘膜上皮厚度均匀，回声稍高的均匀斑块。泪点闭锁表明双眼均存在泪小管，其结构正常。结论80-MHz UBM是一种新的非侵入性技术，可用于清晰可视化泪小管的精细结构，包括粘膜上皮和上皮下弹性纤维层。这种方法的使用将增进对泪小管层次结构的理解，并为泪道疾病患者的诊断，鉴别诊断和治疗计划提供全面的基础。泪点闭锁表明双眼均存在泪小管，其结构正常。结论80-MHz UBM是一种新的非侵入性技术，可用于清晰可视化泪小管的精细结构，包括粘膜上皮和上皮下弹性纤维层。这种方法的使用将增进对泪小管层次结构的理解，并为泪道疾病患者的诊断，鉴别诊断和治疗计划提供全面的基础。泪点闭锁表明双眼均存在泪小管，其结构正常。结论80-MHz UBM是一种新的非侵入性技术，可用于清晰可视化泪小管的精细结构，包括粘膜上皮和上皮下弹性纤维层。这种方法的使用将增进对泪小管层次结构的理解，并为泪道疾病患者的诊断，鉴别诊断和治疗计划提供全面的基础。包括粘膜上皮和上皮下弹性纤维层。这种方法的使用将增进对泪小管层次结构的理解，并为泪道疾病患者的诊断，鉴别诊断和治疗计划提供全面的基础。包括粘膜上皮和上皮下弹性纤维层。这种方法的使用将增进对泪小管层次结构的理解，并为泪道疾病患者的诊断，鉴别诊断和治疗计划提供全面的基础。