Primary Malignant Epithelial Tumors of the Lacrimal Drainage System: A Major Review

[Interdisciplinary Management of Orbital Diseases]

Diagnosis and therapy of orbital diseases is an interdisciplinary challenge, in which i.e. otorhinolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, radiologists, radiation therapists, maxillo-facial surgeons, endocrinologists, and pediatricians are involved. This review article describes frequent diseases which both, otolaryngologists and ophthalmologists are concerned with in interdisciplinary settings. In particular the inflammatory diseases of the orbit including orbital complications, autoimmunological diseases of the orbit including Grave´s orbitopathy, and primary and secondary tumors of the orbit are discussed. Beside describing the clinical characteristics and diagnostic steps the article focusses on the interdisciplinary therapy. The review is completed by the presentation of most important surgical approaches to the orbit, their indications and possible complications. The authors tried to highlight the relevant facts despite the shortness of the text.

Exclusive or combined endoscopic approach to tumours of the lower lacrimal pathway: review of the literature

A literature review was conducted to assess the role of minimally-invasive endoscopic treatments for lacrimal pathway neoplasms. The study involved the analysis of 316 patients with benign or malignant tumours affecting the lacrimal drainage system. Histologically, the analysis revealed a prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma, followed by lymphatic neoplasms and melanomas. In terms of treatment, minimally-invasive endoscopic approaches, such as endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, play a predominant role in managing early-stage tumours, rather than merely obtaining samples for histological analysis. For more extensive tumours, which constitute the majority of cases, more aggressive external approaches are required, along with the use of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The lack of universally shared staging systems poses a limitation in standardisation and comparison of results. Treatment of these tumours remains complex due to their rarity and histological heterogeneity. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to optimise outcomes.

Primary Lacrimal Sac Tumors with Extension into Vicinity: Outcomes with Endoscopy-Assisted Modified Weber-Ferguson's Approach

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of endoscopy-assisted modified Weber-Ferguson's approach in the management of primary lacrimal sac tumors with extension into the neighboring tissues.

METHODS

A retrospective interventional study was performed on all patients with lacrimal sac tumors treated with the endoscopy-assisted modified Weber-Ferguson approach between January 2010 and June 2022 at the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, China. Data assessed include demographics, clinical presentations, imaging features, surgical techniques, histopathology, adjuvant modalities of management, complications, and outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 13 patients were included in the analysis. Epiphora and palpable mass lesion were the presenting complaint in 84.6% (11/13) of the patients. Nearly half of the patients (46.1%, 6/13) were misdiagnosed as lacrimal duct obstruction. All the lacrimal sac tumors in the present series showed uneven enhancement on T1-weighted MRI imaging. Postoperatively, 84.6% (11/13) patients recovered well with excellent esthetics and were disease-free after a mean follow-up of 58.6 months. Two patients who underwent additional exenteration developed recurrence and succumbed (at 41 and 96 months follow up) while they were on palliative chemoradiation.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic-assisted modified Weber-Fergusson surgical approach is effective in providing better visibility and accessibility to lacrimal sac tumors with extension into neighboring tissue.

Personalized treatment for patients with lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma (LSSCC) is a rare and poor prognosis malignancy. We aimed to investigate the predictive factors for prognosis and to discuss the optimal treatment mode.

METHODS

This retrospective study comprised 84 patients with LSSCC who accepted multidisciplinary treatment. We analyzed the potential prognostic factors and the efficiency of different treatment modes in univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), regional failure-free survival (RFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates for the entire cohort were 83.7%, 76.3%, 77.2%, and 83.7%, respectively. On univariate analysis, orbital bone erosion, lymph node metastasis, and advanced clinical stage were poor prognostic factors. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that orbital bone erosion was a uniquely poor predictor for OS; orbital bone erosion, positive cervical lymph nodes, and old age were poor predictors for PFS. Chemotherapy significantly improved the 5-year OS (90.4% vs. 69.6%, p = 0.03), PFS (82.1% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.036), and DMFS (90.4% vs. 69.6%, p = 0.013), except for RFS (82.5% vs. 65.6%, p = 0.15). Surgery did not improve the 5-year OS (85.6% vs. 79.3%, p = 0.062), PFS (76.0% vs. 76.2%, p = 0.41), RFS (76.1% vs. 79.5%, p = 0.54), and DMFS (85.6% vs. 79.5%, p = 0.096). However, the pre-operative radiotherapy conferred a slightly better OS (p = 0.13) and DMFS (p = 0.16) than post-operative radiotherapy and definitive radiotherapy, but without statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Orbital bone erosion and lymph node metastasis were poor prognostic factors in LSSCC. Chemoradiotherapy was vital and effective. Although surgery did not improve survival, multidisciplinary treatment, including surgery, was recommended for LSSCC.

Difficulties of nasocutaneous fistula repair, following lacrimal outflow system malignancy resection

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of nasocutaneous fistula (NCF) development, following en bloc resection of lacrimal outflow system malignancies (LOSM), and describe the methods of surgical repair.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients who underwent resection of LOSM with reconstruction and post-treatment protocol at the University of Miami between 1997 and 2021.

RESULTS

Of the 23 included patients, 10 (43%) developed postoperative NCF. All NCFs developed within one year of surgical resection or completion of radiation therapy. NCF was seen more frequently in patients who underwent adjuvant radiation therapy and those who had reconstruction of the orbital wall with titanium implants. All patients underwent at least one revisional surgery to close the NCF, including local flap transposition (9/10), paramedian forehead flap (5/10), pericranial flap (1/10), nasoseptal flap (2/10), and microvascular free flap (1/10). Local tissue transfer, pericranial, paramedian, and nasoseptal forehead flaps failed in most cases. Two patients had long-term closure; one patient who underwent a paramedian flap and a second who underwent a radial forearm free flap, suggesting that well-vascularized flaps may be the most viable option for repair.

CONCLUSIONS

NCF is a known complication, following en bloc resection of lacrimal outflow system malignancies. Risk factors for formation may include adjuvant radiation therapy and use of titanium implants for reconstruction. Surgeons should consider utilizing robust vascular-pedicled flaps or microvascular free flaps for repair of NCF in this clinical scenario.

Peripunctal squamous cell carcinoma with canalicular infiltration

Peripunctal squamous cell carcinomas with canalicular infiltration are a rare clinical entity. Although there are universal guidelines on achieving margin clearance for excision of an eyelid tumor, literature is scarce on achieving the same while dealing with the lacrimal drainage system. The present case describes the management of a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma with secondary extension into the proximal lacrimal system. The surgery was performed with intraoperative frozen section guidance.

Molecular characterisation of tumours of the lacrimal apparatus

AIMS

Malignant tumours of the lacrimal apparatus are rare and frequently show a poor prognosis, with no clear therapeutic standards. Characterisation of the genetic landscape of these rare tumours is sparse, and therefore therapeutics generally follow those of their common salivary gland counterparts. To further clarify the pathophysiology and discover potential therapeutic targets, we investigated the genetic landscape of eight tumours of the lacrimal apparatus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

DNA and RNA sequencing were performed to identify genetic mutations and gene fusions. Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by Sanger sequencing were performed to confirm the identified molecular alterations. Genetic alterations were detected in six tumours. Among five adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC), four had confirmed alterations of MYB or MYBL1 genes, including a MYB::NFIB fusion, a MYBL1::NFIB fusion, a MYB amplification and a novel NFIB::THSD7B fusion. Mutations in genes encoding epigenetic modifiers, as well as NOTCH1, FGFR2 and ATM mutations, were also identified in ACCs. A carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma showed TP53 and CIC mutations and an amplification of ERBB2. A transitional cell carcinoma was associated with HPV16 infection. No genetic alteration was found for one adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the variety of molecular alterations associated with lacrimal system tumours and emphasises the importance of molecular testing in these tumours, which can reveal potentially targetable mutations. Our results also reinforce the hypothesis of a common physiopathology of all ACCs, regardless of their primary location.

Lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma: From resection to prosthetic rehabilitation. A case report

Key Clinical Message

There is a lack of consensus and evidence on treatment strategies for lacrimal sac carcinomas. Wide en bloc surgical resection with farther prosthetic rehabilitation could be the treatment option in certain cases.

Abstract

Malignant epithelial lacrimal sac tumors are rare cancers with high recurrence rates. Diagnosis of these tumors is often delayed as they are confused with chronic dacryocystitis. There is a lack of consensus and evidence on standard treatment strategies for advanced lacrimal sac carcinomas. A case of advanced lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma treated with wide en bloc margin-negative surgical resection with further prosthetic rehabilitation without adjuvant therapy and 38 months of recurrence-free postoperative follow-up is presented.

Clinical Analysis of Primary Malignant Lacrimal Sac Tumors: A Case Series Study With a Comparison to the Previously Published Literature

PURPOSE

To report management of a series of patients with primary malignant lacrimal sac tumors and to compare these results to the previously published literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 27 patients with pathologically confirmed primary malignant lacrimal sac lesions were enrolled into this study. Pathological classifications, clinical characteristics, various treatment modalities and follow-up time, including tumor recurrence, were documented. The outcome measures included overall survival, progression-free survival, and median survival time.

RESULTS

Among 27 eligible cases, 33.33% (9/27) of the tumor was non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, and 33.33% (9/27) was squamous cell carcinoma; both were the most common tumor in this series, followed by adenocarcinoma 18.52% (5/27), then melanoma 7.41% (2/27). Treatment modalities included surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy, the overall survival rate of 27 patients was 70.37%, with a median follow-up of 45 months (range: 7 mo-16 y), 8 patients had died from metastatic disease, but 13 patients remained without evidence of recurrent tumor. The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival for all cases were 73.33% and 66.67%, respectively. The median survival time for 5 deceased patients with interstitial brachytherapy was 98 months, and 5-year survival rate was 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, among primary malignant lacrimal sac tumors, the proportion of lymphoma had increased when compared with the previously published literature, and multidisciplinary therapy may lead to a good prognosis in the majority of patients with the tumors and patients may benefit more from interstitial brachytherapy than external beam radiotherapy.

High-risk HPV-related Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Conjunctiva and Lacrimal sac: Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Diagnostic Utility of p16 and Rb Immunohistochemistry

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in conjunctival and lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) has been sporadically reported; however, its prevalence, clinicopathologic significance and surrogate markers have not been fully elucidated. Here, we attempted to clarify these questions in Japanese patients with conjunctiva and lacrimal sac SCCs. We retrospectively collected 51 conjunctival SCC and 7 lacrimal sac SCC samples and analyzed them for (1) transcriptionally active high-risk HPV infection using messenger RNA in situ hybridization and (2) protein expressions of p16 and Rb using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Among a total of 58 cases, 25 (43.1%) and 16 (27.6%) tumors were positive for p16-IHC and HPV in situ hybridization, respectively. Ten (19.6%) of the 51 conjunctival SCCs, especially in the palpebral conjunctiva, and 6 (85.7%) of the 7 lacrimal sac SCCs were positive for high-risk HPV. High-risk HPV infection was significantly associated with younger patients, nonkeratinizing SCC histology, p16-positivity and partial loss of Rb expression, but not with recurrence risk. Notably, p16-IHC was not a perfect surrogate marker for high-risk HPV infection; only 64% (16/25) of p16-positive tumors were positive for high-risk HPV. In contrast, the p16+/Rb partial loss pattern was exclusively correlated with high-risk HPV-positivity. The results suggest that the combination of p16 and Rb expression patterns by IHC could be a useful method to predict high-risk HPV infection in conjunctival and lacrimal sac SCCs. HPV infection may be of less prognostic value in this field of cancers.

Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Assessment of Advanced Lacrimal Sac Non-Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma Successfully Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC) of the lacrimal apparatus is extremely rare. It is usually very aggressive in destroying local tissue and has a grave prognosis for relentless recurrence and distant failures. Though the current evidence cannot make confident recommendations regarding the best management, curative surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy remains the most commonly used strategy. Here, we report a 71-year-old woman presented with progressive right medial canthal swellings for six months. A transnasal endoscopic biopsy revealed NKSCC of the lacrimal sac. She then underwent a combination of magnetic resonance images (MRI) and 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) for staging purposes. Following cisplatin-based concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT), the post-treatment PET/CT illustrated the absence of an abnormal metabolic accumulation over the suspicious region as observed in post-treatment CT. A further trans-ostia re-biopsy confirmed complete tumor remission. This case demonstrates the remarkable ability of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT to differentiate between a persistent malignancy and post-treatment changes. Furthermore, a definite CCRT might provide comparable outcomes to traditional surgery.

An Algorithm Recommendation to Detect Specific Pathology of the Lacrimal Sac

ABSTRACT

We aimed to recommend an efficient algorithm to detect the presence of specific pathologies of the lacrimal sac (LS). The charts of 296 patients who had undergone LS biopsy were reviewed retrospectively. The age, gender, history, examination and radiological findings, sac appearance, and pathology results of the patients were recorded. The power of our data to predict the presence of potential specific pathology was identified by regression analysis. After the causality evaluation of the statistical results, an algorithm was created to differentiate specific LS pathologies from chronic dacryocystitis. Our algorithm was mainly formed by deciding on radiological examination and biopsy according to the risk scoring created by the examination findings. A specific LS pathology was observed in 11 (3.7%) patients. When we applied the recommended algorithm to cases with a suspicion of specific pathology and/or found to have a specific pathology, 36.4% of the patients would not require radiological examination and 29.6% of them would not require a biopsy. On the other hand, 80% of the frozen biopsies had been conducted on cases without a specific pathology. Managing the cases according to our algorithm would mean that frozen biopsy would be recommended in only 1 (12.5%) case without a specific pathology. Besides, the detection of cases with a specific pathology would not be prevented and the necessary diagnostic procedures would continue to be performed. Specific LS pathologies can be detected adequately, whereas decreasing unnecessary examinations and procedures in cases without a specific pathology by using our algorithm.