A Case of An Inverted Papilloma Originating From a Lacrimal Sac

Abstract

Inverted papillomas are benign but invasive tumors with malignant potential characterized by a high recurrence rate. Although most cases arise from the nasal wall and paranasal sinuses, inverted papillomas originating from the nasolacrimal system have been rarely reported. We describe a rare case of an inverted papilloma in the left nasal cavity, which originated from the lacrimal sac in a 40-year-old female who had a medical history of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy at the department of ophthalmology. At first, it was believed to be an inverted papilloma simply occurring in the nasal cavity, but after several recurrences, it was found to originate from the lacrimal sac. All intranasal lesions and the involved lacrimal sac were removed through cooperative surgery between department of otolaryngology and ophthalmology. This case illustrates the importance of including nasolacrimal system in differentiating the origin of inverted papilloma.