Bilateral dacryocystocele with an intranasal cyst as the cause of respiratory distress in a newborn

Abstract

A congenital dacryocystocele with an intranasal cyst is an uncommon lesion that is usually treated by ophthalmologists, although sometimes an otorhinolaryngologist is consulted first because of nasal obstruction. The nasal cavity is narrow in newborns and can easily be obstructed, even by small lesions. Prolapse or expansion of the cyst into the nose may lead to respiratory distress and difficulty in feeding, since newborns are obligate nose breathers. Here we report a case of bilatera dacryocystocele with intranasal extension in a 3-day-old female infant. The infant presented with respiratory distress and episodic desaturation and was managed successfully by bilateral endoscopic marsupialization of the intranasal cysts. This case report discusses the diagnosis and management and reviews the relevant literature. These finding suggest tha congenital dacryocystocele with an intranasal cyst must be considered in the differential diagnosis of newborns suffering from nasal respiratory difficulty.