Basaloid adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal sac: A rare entity and approach to management

ABSTRACT

Presented is a rare case of basaloid adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal sac. Low grade features of this malignancy permitted a conservative surgical approach to maximize functional and cosmetic outcomes. This is retrospective case description of a single 77-year-old-female patient who underwent a dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone tubes at an outside hospital for epiphora, but was referred to the Wills Eye Hospital Oculoplastics Department for a lacrimal sac biopsy showing low-grade carcinoma with basaloid features. She was treated with complete excision of the mass, common canaliculus and distal canaliculi, and the nasolacrimal duct. The associated maxillary, lacrimal, and ethmoidal bones were similarly excised. Frozen sections were sent of the surrounding periosteum, orbital fat, nasal and sinus mucosa, and soft tissues, and all were negative. Reconstruction of the lacrimal system was performed with silicone tube intubation and the defect was closed with large glabellar and mid-facial flaps. One year post-operatively she maintained a normal ocular examination, and her eyelids and silicone tubes were well positioned. Systemic evaluation remained unrevealing. Basaloid adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal sac is relatively rare, and we highlight the role of a more conservative surgical intervention given the high rates of survival and low incidence of progression to metastatic disease when treating this rare malignancy.

KEYWORDS:

• Basal cell adenocarcinoma
• basaloid adenocarcinoma
• lacrimal sac tumors
• malignant lacrimal sac tumor

Acknowledgments

This case was presented as a poster presentation at the 2015 Fall ASOPRS Conference in Las Vegas.

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Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.