[Malignant neoplasms of the lacrimal sac: rarity among tear duct diseases].

BACKGROUND

Malignant neoplasms of the lacrimal sac are rare in the ophthalmic literature, for which there are only very limited diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations. We present five consecutive cases of our hospital from 2006 to 2009.

METHOD: Retrospective analysis of all surgically treated patients with lacrimal duct diseases in the years 2006 to 2009, recording of malignant neoplasms and presentation of diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

RESULTS

From January 2006 until October 2009 we performed 213 dacryocystorhinostomies at the Eye Clinic, Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum. In five patients intrasaccal malignancies were histologically proven by biopsy. None of the patients showed typical symptoms such as bloody epiphora. In two patients, a squamous cell carcinoma was seen, and one patient showed an adenocarcinoma. The other patients had a lymphoma and a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The therapeutic approach consisted of surgical resection and radiotherapy. Systemic manifestations did not occur in any of the five patients. In the limited follow-up period no recurrences and no metastases were seen.