A case of squamous cell carcinoma originating in the lacrimal sac during pregnancy

Abstract

Malignant tumors in the lacrimal sac are rare, and their initial symptoms often resemble those of dacryocystitis, leading to a delayed diagnosis. We herein report a case of squamous cell carcinoma originating from the lacrimal sac and progressing into the nasal cavity. The patient was a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman who presented with complaints of right nasal obstruction and discharge at 28 weeks of pregnancy. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the right nasal cavity. Considering her young age and pregnancy, we consulted with obstetricians and performed Caesarean section at 35 weeks of pregnancy. The tumor seemed to have invaded the orbital cavity, and although surgical resection of the tumor, including the eyeball, was initially discussed as an option, the patient opted for concurrent chemoradiotherapy to preserve her appearance. The tumor was considerably reduced in size but not eliminated. The remarkable reduction in the tumor size allowed us to perform tumor resection while preserving the eyeball. The skin defect was reconstructed using a forehead flap. At present, one year and nine months have passed since the surgery, and no signs of recurrence or metastasis have been observed.