Malignant Melanoma of the Lacrimal Sac*

REPORTS on tumours ofthe lacrimal sac appear infrequently in the literature and most ophthalmologists seldom encounter these tumours, but this does not detract from their interest, occasional reports serving as a reminder of the possible presence of a neoplasm when dealing with a mass in this region. Since 1950, eight carcinomata, one adenoma, three papillomata, and two malignant melanomata have 'been encountered in this department. These figures, as far as melanomata are concerned, give a somewhat erroneous impression of their comparative incidence, for only three malignant melanomata of the lacrimal sac have so far been reported in the world literature-one each from Russia, Italy, and France (Muravleskin, 1926; Margotta, 1929; Florentin, Thomas, and Poirot, 1947). Interestingly, all three tumours were found in females and were situated on the left side. Early diagnosis of malignancy is of great importance with regard to the patient's expectancy of life, and for this reason alone it would seem advantageous to study more closely malignant melanomata of the sac about which there is a paucity of detail in the literature.