Clinical, demographic, and outcome differences between isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement in idiopathic orbital inflammation.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical data of idiopathic orbital inflammation with isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation between January 2016 and June 2022 were evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement, and were compared in terms of clinical characteristics, response to treatment and recurrence rates.

RESULTS

Thirty-three eyes of 32 patients (21 female, 11 male) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 47.4 ± 14.8 (range, 11-70). The mean follow-up period was 37.4 ± 21.5 (range, 6-76) months. Isolated lacrimal gland involvement was found in 18 eyes (54.5%), myositis and orbital adipose tissue involvement in addition to lacrimal gland involvement in 13 eyes (39.4%), and diffuse orbital inflammation in two eyes (6.1%). While a total of 24 patients (75.0%) were treated with systemic steroids alone, immunosuppressive drugs were used in addition to steroids in eight patients (25.0%). In patients with isolated lacrimal gland involvement, complete recovery with steroid treatment was significantly higher (p = 0.02), while the need for immunosuppressant medication (p = 0.02) and recurrence rates (p = 0.006) were found to be significantly lower.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe and compare the clinical features and treatment outcomes of lacrimal gland biopsy-proven idiopathic orbital inflammation according to the extent of involvement. Knowing whether lacrimal gland involvement is isolated or not may help predict steroid resistance and recurrence risk in patient management.