[Adenocarcinoma in the tear sack after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy]

Abstract

Primary adenocarcinoma of the nasolacrimal drainage system is a highly uncommon diagnosis, which is presumably derived from malignantly transformed glandular cells that are interspersed amongst the epithelium of the nasolacrimal duct. The patients usually present with unspecific orbital or sinus-nasal symptoms. An appropriate therapeutic regime consists of a preferably early, radical resection and local postoperative radiation therapy. This brief contribution deals with an especially uncommon case of a carcinoma of the nasolacrimal drainage system. On his first presentation, the 62-year old patient complained about right sided epiphora which had been present over the last few weeks. Eight years prior to presentation, he had been treated for a nasolacrimal duct stenosis by endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy on this side. Diagnostic imaging revealed a soft tissue mass in the right nasolacrimal duct which was removed by a combined extra-endonasal approach. The final histopathological evaluation was adenocarcinoma. Following postoperative radiotherapy, the patient has been free of disease for 42 months. The occurrence of adenocarcinoma of the nasolacrimal drainage system in the setting of previous surgery may provide a new insight into the clinical spectrum of the natural history of this disease.