Tumors of the Lacrimal Drainage System

Abstract

Tumors of the lacrimal drainage system are rare, but potentially life-threatening. They comprise a large and variable spectrum of entities grouped into three major categories of primary epithelial, primary nonepithelial and inflammatory lesions. The most common primary epithelial tumors include papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma, the most frequent primary nonepithelial tumors fibrous histiocytoma, malignant lymphoma and malignant melanoma, and the most common inflammatory lesions sarcoidosis, Wegener granulomatosis and pyogenic granuloma. This review outlines the incidence, types, management and prognosis of tumors affecting the lacrimal drainage system.

How to Treat Sweat Gland Adenocarcinoma of the Eyelid: Case Report

“…In the case that orbital contents are removed, a pool of lacrimal or seborrheic discharge is occasionally found. To drain away such discharge, we scooped out the facial bone from the maxillary process to the concha nucae inferior, inside the nasal cavity, after removing the nasolacrimal duct and making a new duct [12]. Accordingly, it was thought that pooled discharge on the orbital fossa was induced and drained away toward the nasal cavity.…”

Management of a Lacrimal Duct Tumor with Metastasis to the Thyroid

“…Most patients present with epiphora and few have a palpable mass at the medial canthus [4,5]. Among lacrimal tumors, there appears to be no gender predominance and the average age of diagnosis is in the patient's 6th decade [7].…”

“…Among lacrimal tumors, there appears to be no gender predominance and the average age of diagnosis is in the patient's 6th decade [7]. 50-70% of lacrimal tumors are malignant and 70% are epithelial in origin [4,5]. Most malignant lacrimal sac tumors are treated with surgery or radiotherapy, but there is no consensus for management due to its rarity [5].…”

“…Primary tumors of the lacrimal drainage system are rare, with less than 900 known cases reported in the literatura [4,5]. Most patients present with epiphora and few have a palpable mass at the medial canthus [4,5].…”

“…Furthermore, primary tumors of the lacrimal drainage system are extremely rare, with less than 900 known cases reported in the literatura [4,5]. Adenoid cystic sarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common subtypes [6].…”