Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting the need for concomitant endoscopic septoplasty during endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy

Simultaneous endoscopic septoplasty is often required during endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) to improve access to the lacrimal sac and potentially optimize surgical success rates. In current practice, the decision to proceed to concomitant endoscopic septoplasty during En-DCR in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) is determined by anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopic examination. However, none of these methods can be used to quantitatively assess the severity of septal deviation to determine the need for concomitant endoscopic septoplasty during En-DCR. This study was thus conducted to develop and validate a radiological prediction model based on computed tomography (CT) to predict the necessity of concomitant endoscopic septoplasty during En-DCR.