Combined therapeutic approach to malignant lacrimal gland tumors.

The medical records of 13 patients with primary malignant lesions of the lacrimal gland revealed adenoid cystic carcinoma as the most common malignant tumor. The histologic cell type, neural invasion, and bony destruction were correlated with localized control and ultimate survival. Surgical removal of the lacrimal gland was adequate treatment for low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma confined to the gland itself. Combining a radical surgical removal of the area in planned sequence with high voltage radiation therapy offered the only reasonable hope for localized control in the more aggressive cell types or in tumors with neural invasion or bony involvement. A 40%-localized control and survival rate was achieved in the adenoid cystic carcinoma group of patients. Radiation therapy administered for cancer that obviously recurs after surgical resection was generally unsuccessful.