Pulmonary manifestations of benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) usually include multiple well-defined, round, bilateral nodules. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS) is a rare uterine tumor. A 70-year-old woman visited the clinic complaining of acute cough and dyspnea in April 2017. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed pneumothorax and multiple pulmonary nodules. She had a history of hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma 23 years ago. Biopsy revealed that the pulmonary masses were consistent with BML. However, the patient had two subsequent episodes of acute, recurrent respiratory distress, accompanied by massive pleural effusions and hydropneumothorax over the next two years. A chest CT performed for acute dyspnea revealed large and multiple hydropneumothoraces. The size and distribution of pulmonary masses were aggravated along with cystic changes and bilateral pleural effusions. Given this aggressive feature, additional immunohistochemical findings and gynecologic pathologist review confirmed the correct diagnosis to be LG-ESS. After initiating anti-estrogen therapy, the patient achieved a partial response, without recurrence of symptoms, for 28 months. Metastatic LG-ESS responds well to anti-hormonal therapy. If the clinical pattern of a disease is different than expected, the possibility of a correction in the diagnosis should be considered.
Primary malignant melanoma of the nasolacrimal duct is a rare and aggressive mucosal neoplasm. Its diagnosis is frequently delayed because early symptoms often mimic benign inflammatory conditions like chronic dacryocystitis. While hemolacria is considered a hallmark sign, it is not universally present. We present a case of a 78-year-old woman with a 1-year history of persistent epiphora and discharge from the left eye, without hemolacria. Initial lacrimal irrigation suggested obstruction. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a soft tissue lesion with widening of the lacrimal bony canal but without gross destruction. An incisional biopsy confirmed malignant melanoma. The patient underwent wide surgical resection, including medial maxillectomy, followed by adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy (50 Gy). The tumor was BRAF wild-type. At 24 months post-treatment, the patient remains disease-free with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. This case highlights that the absence of hemolacria should not preclude the suspicion of malignancy in refractory lacrimal obstruction. Early cross-sectional imaging and biopsy are essential for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, this case suggests that a multimodal approach combining wide surgical excision and adjuvant radiotherapy may contribute to durable local control in selected patients.