An International Journal Clinical Rhinology

Register      Login

VOLUME 12 , ISSUE 2-3 ( May-December, 2019 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

An Unusual Lacrimal Gland Mass

Pankaj Gupta, Savleen Kaur, Zoramthara Zadeng, Rakesh Vasishta, Manpreet Singh

Citation Information : Gupta P, Kaur S, Zadeng Z, Vasishta R, Singh M. An Unusual Lacrimal Gland Mass. Clin Rhinol An Int J 2019; 12 (2-3):49-51.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10013-1357

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2019; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim and objective: The present report describes an atypical presentation of a lacrimal gland mass in a young male patient. Symptomatology favored a benign mass that was proven to be malignant on histopathology. Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most common epithelial malignancy of the lacrimal gland. The usual presentation of adenoid cystic carcinoma is in either sex at about an average 40 years of age with range from 6 to 79 years. The patient usually complains of a superotemporal orbital mass with rapid progression usually within a year. Uncommonly, these masses may present with longer history as is described in present case report. Case description: A 17-year-old male patient of Indian origin presented with a mass in the superotemporal part of the right orbit for the last 5 years and 6 months. A firm and smooth orbital mass, approximately 20 mm × 15 mm, was present in superotemporal orbit that was nontender and nonpulsatile. A clinical diagnosis of lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma was strongly suggested by the clinical as well as radiological features. The orbital mass was excised en bloc by a right transseptal anterior orbitotomy. Histopathological examination of the excised mass revealed features characteristic of lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Conclusion: Lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma can simulate pleomorphic adenoma and can present with history over 5 years. Hence, it should always be kept as a clinical possibility in patients with the painless superotemporal orbital mass and early excision of such orbital masses for appropriate diagnosis and management is vital. Clinical significance: The duration of 5½ years at presentation in well-localized lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma is the longest period ever reported. The present article recommends keeping the differential diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in all patients with the clinically benign superotemporal orbital mass.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Primary epithelial malignancies of the lacrimal gland: the 2003 Ramon L Font LECTURE. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2004;20(1):10–21. DOI: 10.1097/01.IOP.0000103003.87842.BB.
  2. Survey of 1264 orbital tumors and pseudotumors: The 2002 Montgomery lecture, part 1. Ophthalmology 2004;111(5):997–1008. DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2003.01.002.
  3. Primary malignant neoplasms of the lacrimal gland. Br J Ophthalmol 1992;76(7):401–407. DOI: 10.1136/bjo.76.7.401.
  4. Lacrimal gland tumors. In: Karcioglu ZA, ed. Orbital tumors Diagnosis and management. New York USA: Springer; 2005. pp. 204–220.
  5. Malignant lacrimal gland tumors. In: Rootman J, ed. Orbital disease. Florida USA: Taylor and Francis; 2005. pp. 107–115.
  6. Epithelial lacrimal gland tumors: a clinicopathological study of 18 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006;134(2):321–325. DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.09.024.
  7. An unusual presentation of adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 1993;9(1):47–50. DOI: 10.1097/00002341-199303000-00007.
  8. Unusual presentations of pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol 1999;27(2):145–148. DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1606.1999.00173.x.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.