Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the lacrimal sac and concomitant pansinusitis.

Paranasal sinus disease has an established propensity to breach anatomical barriers and present with orbital clinical features. Lacrimal sac lymphomas on the other hand are rare, usually present in males in the sixth decade and 50 per cent of cases have systemic lymphoma/leukaemia. Atypical presentations of lymphomas at this and other sites are reported in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The clinical features, investigations and treatment of a young human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sero-negative woman with a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma localized to the lacrimal sac and presenting with a concomitant ipsilateral pansinusitis is described. The importance of submitting surgical material for pathological investigation is stressed.