[Tumors of the lacrimal drainage system]

The prevalence of tumors affecting the lacrimal drainage system is low, thus generating a risk of late diagnosis and treatment in clinical routine. However, these tumors can be potentially life-threatening, which emphasizes the relevance of early diagnosis and treatment.

This review focuses on the symptoms, incidence, management, and prognosis of the different tumor entities affecting the lacrimal drainage system.

The study provides a PubMed-based literature review and presents own clinical results.

Alongside detailed medical history taking and comprehensive clinical examination, precise inspection during external dacryocystography is important for diagnosis of tumors affecting the lacrimal drainage system. There is a wide spectrum of tumor entities located in the lacrimal drainage system. The tumors are classified into three groups: primary epithelial, primary nonepithelial, and inflammatory lesions. The most common primary epithelial tumors include papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma. The most common nonepithelial tumors include fibrous histiocytoma, malignant lymphoma, and malignant melanoma; while the most common inflammatory lesions comprise sarcoidosis, Wegener granulomatosis, and pyogenic granuloma. Treatment depends on the entity and stage of the tumor. In the case of malignancy, a multimodal and interdisciplinary approach is usually indicated.

Differential diagnostic signs in favor of a malignancy include a long medical history, predisposing conditions in the patient's history, a mass above the medial canthal ligament, teleangiectasis above the mass, and serosanguinous secretion.