title: Two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignancy of the lacrimal sac is rare, and primary malignant melanoma in this region is extremely rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases of malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac presented with epiphora and a palpable mass in the medial canthal area. We performed radical surgery and radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic studies confirmed the diagnosis. One of the patients, a 65-year-old-woman, has no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis 3 years after surgery and radiotherapy, whereas another patient, a 56-year-old man, died of distant metastasis 6 months after surgery and radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present two cases of malignant melanoma of the lacrimal sac that masqueraded as chronic dacryocystitis. Head and neck surgeons should be aware of this disease entity when encountered with patients with epiphora and mass in the medial canthal area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro Hospital, 80 Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, South Korea. hmlee91@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged