Maskerade Tränenwegsstenose: Prävalenz von Tränensacktumoren

Mihailovic N, Steenken J, Elges S, Merté R, Grenzebach U, Eter N, Alnawaiseh M

Abstract

BACKGROUND Tumors of the lacrimal sac are a~rare entity. Malignancies are often associated with a~high mortality rate. Lacrimal sac tumors often present as lacrimal duct stenosis with dacryocystitis and are often only diagnosed after an intraoperative biopsy. The aim of this study was a~retrospective analysis of all cases with lacrimal sac tumors, which presented with a~lacrimal duct stenosis at this medical center in the past 10~years. METHODS All patients who were treated by external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) at the University Medical Center Münster during the period January 2009-December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of a~lacrimal sac tumor. Symptoms, clinical and histopathological findings, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as long-term follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS A~total number of 878 patients underwent an external DCR at the University Medical Center Münster during the study period. Of these patients 13~were diagnosed with a~lacrimal sac tumor and included 9~malignant lymphomas, 2~squamous cell carcinomas, 1~oncocytic adenoma and 1~transitional cell papilloma. CONCLUSION Neoplasms of the lacrimal sac can masquerade as lacrimal duct stenosis or dacryocystitis and must be considered as a~differential diagnosis in cases with an atypical clinical course. A~lacrimal sac biopsy during an (external) DCR with subsequent histopathological examination is strongly recommended in such cases.