Calculated CT Volumes of Lacrimal Glands in Normal Korean Orbits

Abstract

Purpose: We used computed tomography (CT) scans to describe normal Korean lacrimal gland volume and lacrimal gland size and then examined their correlations with patient age. Methods: CT scans were obtained in 213 orbits of 111 patients who underwent CT from January to August of 2013. Aquarius iNtuition (TeraRecon, Foster City, CA, USA) software was used to outline the lacrimal gland in consecutive axial slices and to calculate the volume. Results: The mean volume of the lacrimal gland was 0.589 cm in right orbits (SD = 0.090), 0.583 cm in left orbits (SD = 0.289), 0.596 cm in males (SD = 0.083), and 0.575 cm in females (SD = 0.094). There was no significant difference in mean lacrimal gland volume according to laterality (p = 0.614) or sex (p = 0.102) (2-sample t-tests). We investigated mean lacrimal gland volume in 3 age groups. Mean lacrimal gland volume was 0.630 cm (SD = 0.080) for the 20 to 40 year old group, 0.553 cm (SD = 0.734) for the 41 to 60 year old group, and 0.544 cm (SD = 0.885) for the older than 60 years old group. There was an inverse relationship between gland volume and age (Pearson r = −0.384, p = 0.00). Conclusions: The mean volume of the lacrimal gland decreased with age and there was no significant difference between right and left orbits or between male and female patients. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2015;56(1):1-5