Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Sac Presenting with Lacrimal Duct Obstruction

Purpose@#We report a case of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the lacrimal sac. Case summary: A 54-year-old man presented with epiphora that had been present for 1 month. He underwent lacrimal syringe analysis of the lower punctum in the right eye, which demonstrated fluid regurgitation from the upper punctum. Computed tomography revealed a 3.0 × 3.4 × 3.0 cm mass with an ill-defined margin in the right lacrimal sac, which demonstrated invasion of the lacrimal duct and bony destruction of the inferior and medial orbital walls. Incisional biopsy and histologic examination showed that the tumor was composed of small round tumor cells. On the basis of histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, a diagnosis of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma was made. The patient received chemotherapy. @*Conclusions@#To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the lacrimal sac in Korea. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the lacrimal sac should be regarded as a differential diagnosis for patients with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Sac Presenting with Lacrimal Duct Obstruction

Purpose@#We report a case of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the lacrimal sac. Case summary: A 54-year-old man presented with epiphora that had been present for 1 month. He underwent lacrimal syringe analysis of the lower punctum in the right eye, which demonstrated fluid regurgitation from the upper punctum. Computed tomography revealed a 3.0 × 3.4 × 3.0 cm mass with an ill-defined margin in the right lacrimal sac, which demonstrated invasion of the lacrimal duct and bony destruction of the inferior and medial orbital walls. Incisional biopsy and histologic examination showed that the tumor was composed of small round tumor cells. On the basis of histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, a diagnosis of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma was made. The patient received chemotherapy. @*Conclusions@#To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the lacrimal sac in Korea. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the lacrimal sac should be regarded as a differential diagnosis for patients with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Spontaneous Regression of Lacrimal Sac Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Spontaneous regression of squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare event. We report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma in the lacrimal sac which showed spontaneous regression without any treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old woman presented with epiphora and ocular discharge from the right eye. Under the diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, we performed dacryocystorhinostomy. Two years after the surgery, the patient presented again with severe epiphora and ocular pain accompanied by proptosis and adduction limitation in the right eye. Computed tomography demonstrated a mass occupying the right lacrimal sac and incisional biopsy showed poorly differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Additional treatment was recommended, but the patient denied any treatments. At 6 months after the biopsy, the medial orbital wall was partially destructed. On positron emission tomography/computed tomography, metastasis was suspected in the cervical, para-aortic, sub-carinal, and peri-esophageal lymph nodes. However, at 15 months after the biopsy, the orbital tumor had almost disappeared. On positron emission tomography/computed tomography, fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was reduced in all areas including the cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: This case exhibited a generally natural course of a malignant tumor, including medial orbital wall destruction and lymph node metastasis. However, the course then improved naturally without any treatment. The reason for the spontaneous regression of squamous cell carcinoma is still unclear but might be due to complex effects of one or several factors.

Amblyopia and Strabismus by Monocular Corneal Opacity Following Suspected Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis in Infancy

PURPOSE: To identify the long term clinical course of amblyopia and strabismus that developed secondary to a monocular corneal opacity following suspected epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) in infancy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study analyzing the medical records of seven patients, treated in our clinic, who were followed for more than five years. RESULTS: Four patients in our clinic underwent a corneal ulcer treatment following suspected EKC. Each developed a monocular corneal opacity. Three patients with a chief complaint of corneal opacity were transferred to our clinic from other clinics. These patients had documented histories of treatment for EKC in infancy. All patients were treated with early occlusion therapy, but amblyopia persisted in four patients. Furthermore, all patients had strabismus and showed a significant reduction of stereoscopic vision. CONCLUSIONS: Although infants with EKC are not always cooperative, slit lamp examination should be performed as early as possible, and appropriate medical treatment should be performed, thus reducing the development of corneal opacity. Careful follow up should be regularly performed, and the occurrence of amblyopia or strabismus should be verified at an early stage using visual acuity or ocular alignment examination. Ophthalmologic treatments, including active occlusion therapy, should also be pursued.

A Case of Oculomotor Nerve Palsy and Choroidal Tuberculous Granuloma Associated with Tuberculous Meningoencephalitis

We report a rare case of oculomotor nerve palsy and choroidal tuberculous granuloma associated with tuberculous meningoencephalitis. A 15-year-old male visited our hospital for an acute drop of the left eyelid and diplopia. He has been on anti-tuberculous drugs (isoniazid, rifampin) for 1 year for his tuberculous encephalitis. A neurological examination revealed a conscious clear patient with isolated left oculomotor nerve palsy, which manifested as ptosis, and a fundus examination revealed choroidal tuberculoma. Other anti-tuberculous drugs (pyrazinamide, ethambutol) and a steroid (dexamethasone) were added. After 3 months on this medication, ptosis of the left upper eyelid improved and the choroidal tuberculoma decreasedin size, but a right homonymous visual field defect remained. When a patient with tuberculous meningitis presents with abrupt onset oculomotor nerve palsy, rapid re-diagnosis should be undertaken and proper treatment initiated, because the prognosis is critically dependent on the timing of adequate treatment.