Pyocele of the lachrymal sac: A late and unusual complication after surgery for a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Philippe Eloy, Vincent Bachy, Véronique Grulois, Bernard Bertrand

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Mont-Godinne, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium

Abstract: JNA (Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma) is a benign but highly vascular and aggressive tumor that takes its origin in the basisphenoid region close to the sphenopalatine foramen. It occurs invariably in male teenagers. Surgery is the treatment of choice. In the past, external transfacial approaches were recommended. Nowadays endonasal endoscopic approach is performed by experienced teams even for extended tumor. The authors report a case of a pyocele of the lachrymal sac occurring 60 years after a transantral surgery for a JNA. The patient was then successfully operated with an endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using a powered instrumentation and a navigation system. This case confirms the necessity of a long follow-up for all the patients who had a transantral surgery with resection of the medial wall of the maxillary sinus and dissection of the nasolacrymal duct.

Keywords: pyocele of the lachrymal sac, complication, surgery for JNA, JNA, endonasal DCR, navigation system