Evaluation and Management of Lacrimal Gland Diseases

The lacrimal gland is the epicenter of a broad spectrum of neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Space-occupying lesions of the lacrimal gland and its fossa constitute approximately 5–13% of orbital masses upon biopsy. Based primarily on Reese’s 1956 clinicopathologic survey of 112 consecutive expanding lesions of the lacrimal gland, most authorities generally report that approximately 50% of the lesions originate from epithelial elements of the lacrimal gland and 50% are of non-epithelial origin. Of non-epithelial lesions, 50% are lymphoid tumors and 50% are comprised of various infections and inflammatory pseudotumors. Among the epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland, approximately 50% are pleomorphic adenomas (benign mixed tumors), 25% adenoid cystic carcinoma, and the remainders are other types of carcinoma