Clinical Characteristics of Lacrimal Sac Tumors: Report of Ten Cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To review our experience with lacrimal sac tumors in an effort to identify features, to evaluate the results of various methods of management, and to compare our data with previous studies. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with lacrimal sac tumors who were managed in our institution between January 1990 and December 2015. The pre-operative clinical data, imaging, operation notes, and follow-up records were reviewed for each patient. RESULTS: The study group consisted of four men and six women with a mean age of 47.6 years. Most patients experienced long-standing epiphora, for a mean period of 20 months. Two of the tumors were benign, and eight of them were malignant. The benign tumors were treated with dacryocystectomy. All but one malignant tumor were treated with medial or total maxillectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered to four patients with malignant tumors. In the eight patients with malignant tumors, the mean follow-up period was 65 months. CONCLUSIONS: Important characteristics of lacrimal sac tumors include dacryocystitis, epiphora, and in some cases, a palpable medial canthal area mass. Wide en bloc resection via medial or total maxillectomy and/or postoperative radiotherapy are proper treatments for malignant lesions of the lacrimal sac.

Benign mixed tumor of the lacrimal sac.

Neoplasms of the lacrimal drainage system are uncommon, but potentially life‑threatening and are often difficult to diagnose Among primary lacrimal sac tumors, benign mixed tumors are extremely rare. Histologically, benign mixed tumors have been classified as a type of benign epithelial tumor. Here we report a case of benign mixed tumor of the lacrimal sac.

A Case of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma in the Lacrimal Sac

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of juvenile xanthogranuloma in the lacrimal sac. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old female presented to our hospital with epiphora and palpable mass on the left medial canthal area. As a symptom, a sticky and bloody discharge through the punctum had begun on occasion 3 months previously. When pressure was applied on the left medial canthal area, a mucoid discharge through the punctum occurred, and a solid mass was palpable. The mass localized in the lacrimal sac and upper nasolacrimal duct was observed on orbit CT. No invasion into the surrounding tissue was present. The authors of the present study decided to perform endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy, and subsequently a skin-colored mass was found in the lacrimal sac. The histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis was histiocytic proliferation, compatible with juvenile xanthogranuloma. Six months later, the patient complained of epiphora recurrence with palpable mass on medial canthal area. The tumor recurrence was confirmed with enhanced orbit CT finding 14 months after the first surgery. A second surgery using endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was performed to remove the mass.

Primary Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Lacrimal Sac in a 68-year-old Woman

PURPOSE: Rhabdomyosarcoma of the lacrimal sac is extremely rare. There has only been one case in this country, during the 30s, and to our knowledge, there are no reports of primary rhabdomyosarcoma on the lacrimal sac. We report a case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the lacrimal sac in a 68-year-old woman METHODS: A 68-year-old female patient presented with tearing of the right eye. A lacrimal sac mass extending to the proximal nasolacrimal duct was detected during the dacryocystorhinostomy, and incisional biopsy was performed. Histopathology revealed a rhabdomyosarcoma of the right lacrimal sac. After systemic chemotherapy, complete excision of the tumor through the medial maxilla was performed. RESULTS: The pathologic diagnosis of the excised mass was embryonal type rhabdomyosarcoma. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence in the lacrimal sac or paranasal sinus during 9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although rhabdomyosarcoma is very uncommon, this case provides the rationale for including it in differential diagnosis of a mass in lacrimal sac.

Management with Radical Excision in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Sac

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac is rare and there is high rate of recurrence after dacryocystectomy. We report successful radical excision of the tumor for the purpose of reducing the recurrence and improving the survival rate. METHODS: A 48-year-old man who had a history of epiphora and medial canthal mass for one year was referred to our clinic. CT scan showed a mass on the lacrimal fossa but there was no evidence of bony destruction or local invasion. We confirmed that the excised mass was squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac by frozen section. So, radical excision including bony and mucous nasolacrimal duct (NLD), inferior turbinate, and medial maxilla was performed through lateral rhinotomy. RESULTS: Ten months later, there was skin defect and medial canthal deformity. So we corrected the deformity with a forehead free flap and the result was cosmetically acceptable. There was no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis for one- year follow- up period. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its high recurrence rate, we can reduce the recurrence and mortality rate of squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac with radical excision including bony and mucous NLD, inferior turbinate, and medial maxilla.