Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
Transcanalicular Diode Laser-assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy for the Treatment of Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Published on: October 13, 2017
Management of lacrimal sac tumours
1Lacrimal Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
Purpose:
To report a series of 15 primary lacrimal sac tumours and present an algorithm in managing this rare condition.
Design:
Noncomparative interventional case series.
Methods:
A retrospective review of the clinical, radiological, and pathological records of 15 patients with primary lacrimal sac tumours. Main outcome measures Histologic evaluation and clinical follow-up, including tumour clearance and recurrence, were assessed.
Results:
Of the patients, 11 were female and the median age at presentation for the whole group was 59 years (range 22-94 years). The commonest tumour was non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma (five cases), followed by two cases each of squamous cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma, one case of benign transitional papilloma, haemangiopericytoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, mixed (squamous/transitional) carcinoma, and a highly malignant undifferentiated tumour. Treatment modalities included surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and, with a median follow-up of 30 months (range 2 months to 17 years), two patients had died from metastatic disease but nine patients remained without evidence of recurrent tumour.
Conclusions:
Primary lacrimal sac tumours are extremely rare, require long-term follow-up for recurrence and metastasis, and can be fatal.
