Lacrimal Sac Mucocele in a Newborn: A Rare Mimic of Congenital Intranasal Tumor

Ayla Gunlemez,Selim Oncel

doi:10.4172/2165-7920.1000600

Abstract

Lacrimal sac mucocele, either unilateral or bilateral, occurs when the nasolacrimal duct is obstructed and is a rare anomaly in the newborn period. We presented 1 day old full-term female baby with respiratory distress. She was referred by her primary care provider for an otolaryngologic assesment with the suspicion of choanal atresia. In her nasal endoscopy, a mass with a mucosal lining was filling the right nasal cavity. Ultrasonography showed a submucosal tumorous lesion in the right nasal cavity and MRI demonstrated a unilateal lacrimal sac mucocele. In this case report, it is stressed that lacrimal sac mucocele may manifest only with intranasal mass in the newborn period; which can be misdiagnosed as a tumor. MRI is a valuable tool in its capacity to delineate many details in mucocele and may prevent unnecessary biopsies and other surgical procedures.

Highlights

A newborn, who presents with a midline frontonasal mass, often poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians [1,2,3]
Tumors of the nasal cavity are rarely seen in pediatric population
That may manifest themselves with an intranasal mass, are nasal glioma, encephalocele, hemangioma, epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, polyp, and lacrimal sac mucocele [1,2,8,13,14]

Summary

Introduction

A newborn, who presents with a midline frontonasal mass, often poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians [1,2,3]. The differential diagnosis include encephalocele, nasal glioma, epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, hemangioma and embryonic tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma, teratoma, and neuroblastoma [1,7,8]. On the other hand, usually presents itself as a blueish medial cantal mass, epiphora, overflow of tears, or rarely dispnea [1,4,5,9].

Results

Conclusion