Epithelial lacrimal gland tumors: a clinicopathological study of 18 cases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to report the clinicopathological features of 18 epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland treated in a single institution.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Clinical data and treatment were recorded and histological features reviewed.

RESULTS

Twelve tumors (66.7%) were adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), 5 (27.8%) pleomorphic adenoma (PA), and 1 (5.5%) carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. All patients with ACC presented with advanced clinical stage, and most were treated by wide surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. No recurrence was observed in 4 cases of ACC; however, 7 patients died from persistence of disease or by local and/or distant recurrence. All PA patients were successfully treated by surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial lacrimal gland tumors are mainly PA and ACC, and malignancies are more common than benign tumors. Although ACC presented typically with advanced clinical stage, 33% of the patients survived without tumor recurrence or metastasis.