Purpose. To identify individual risk factors for the development of nasolacrimal duct obstruction based on radiology examination.

Material and methods. The results of computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinuses were studied. Group 1 consisted of 45 patients (45 cases) with primary lacrimal obstruction, group 2 – 23 patients (23 cases) with secondary lacrimal obstruction developed as a result of radioactive iodine therapy, group 3 – 63 subjects (63 cases) without lacrimal obstruction. The thickness of the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses was determined by calculating the value of the integral indices on the Newman and Lund-Mackay scales. The results of the three groups of patients were compared. The differences were considered significant at p<0.05, and the Bonferroni correction was applied.

Results. Differences in the thickness of the mucosa of the frontal sinuses and the ethmoid cells in the examined three groups are statistically significant. The median score on the Lund-Mackay and Newman scales was highest in group 1. A statistically significant difference on the Lund-Mackay scales was found when comparing the scores of patients in groups 1 and 2, as well as in patients in groups 1 and 3. The ROC curve with optimal parameters was obtained for the indicator of the state of the paranasal sinuses on the Lund-Mackay scale in patients of group 1.

Discussion. The obtained data correlate with the data obtained in the study of the pathogenesis of primary obstruction of the tear ducts, which suggests that the unfavorable condition of the paranasal sinuses may be a risk factor for the development of obstruction of the tear ducts. For practical purposes, it is justified to use the Lund-Mackay scale to assess the risk of developing primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Conclusion. The analysis showed that the unfavorable condition of the paranasal sinuses is a risk factor for the development of primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction. This risk factor does not affect the possibility of developing secondary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction due to radioactive iodine therapy.