Nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by an oncocytoma

We report the case of a woman with epiphora and purulent rhinorrhea for which she initially underwent a dacryocystorhinostomy. The unilateral rhinorrhea was persistent and one year later an oncocytoma of the lacrmal sac with extension to the nasolacrimal duct was diagnosed. Surgical excision of the tumour via a medial maxillectomy was accomplished. Longterm follow-up for 10 years was without evidence of recurrence. To our knowledge only 22 oncocytomas of the lacrimal sac but none involving the duct have so far been reported. In patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction a lacrimal sac or nasolacrimal duct tumour though rare is a possibility and should be kept in mind. The majority of these tumours are malignant and oncocytomas may undergo malignant transformation.