Clinical features and pathological analysis of lacrimal gland occupying lesions in 91 cases

Objective To analyze the pathogenesis, histopathological classification and clinical features of lacrimal gland occupying lesions. Methods This was a retrospective case series study. Clinical data of 91 patients (102 eyes) with lacrimal gland area occupying diseases who received ophthalmic surgery in the Second People′s Hospital of Yunnan Province from January 2014 to November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including patients′ age, reasons for treatment, gender, imageological examination data and pathological diagnosis results. All patients had more than one medical imaging examination results and histopathological diagnosis results. Results Among 91 cases, 46 patients (50.5%) were male and 45 (49.5%) were female. The age distribution ranged from 1.1 years to 72 years old, with an average age of 43 years. All of benign tumors added up to 58 cases (63.7%). Pleomorphic adenoma (43 cases, 47.3%), dermoid cyst (6 cases, 6.6%), and inflammatory pseudotumor (6 cases, 6.6%) were the most common cases in the benign lacrimal gland occupying tumors. There were 33 cases (36.3%) of malignant tumors. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (15 cases, 16.5%), adenocarcinoma (6 cases, 6.6%) and lymphoma (5 cases, 5.5%) had the highest incidence among the malignant lacrimal gland occupying tumors. The most common reason for seeking medical treatment was exophthalmos (50 cases, 54.9%; 30 cases were pleomorphic adenoma). Brow arch mass (22 cases, 24.2%) and pain in and around the eye (9 cases, 9.9%; 5 cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma) were also major reasons. Conclusions The most common benign lacrimal gland area occupying lesion in surgery patients of Yunnan is pleomorphic adenoma, which more occurred in patients with exophthalmos as the main symptoms. The most common malignant tumor in the lacrimal gland area is adenoid cystic carcinoma and the most common reason to seek medical advice was pain in and around the eye. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:842-846) Key words: Lacrimal apparatus; Eye neoplasms; Adenoma, pleomorphic; Dermoid cyst; Carcinoma, adenoid cystic; Granuloma, plasma cell