title: Primary lacrimal sac B-cell immunoblastic lymphoma simulating an acute dacryocystitis.
abstract: The case of a 72-year-old woman with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the lacrimal sac is reported. The patient was evaluated for the first time in our department for tearing of the right eye. One month later, a slightly aching mass appeared over the right lacrimal sac. An acute infectious etiology was suspected and antibiotic therapy was given. When she finally presented with a rapidly growing lesion, she underwent echography and computed tomography followed by incisional biopsy. Results of histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation showed a primary, diffuse, large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the lacrimal sac. This case demonstrates how difficult the clinical diagnosis of tumors of the lacrimal sac may be in the early stages. The clinical signs, usually aspecific, may be misleading and the diagnosis delayed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ferrara, Via Terranuova 30, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Palma
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravalli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Modestino
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grisanti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casillo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzola
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016400:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy