Diagnostic Pitfalls: A Case Series of 5 Patients with Lacrimal Gland Mass

Abstract

Background: The orbit is infamous to harbor various mass lesions, out of which lacrimal gland tumors contribute to about 10% of all tumors. The peak incidence is in the middle-aged adults who present with upper eyelid mass. These tumors have a high morbidity and mortality rate due to their misdiagnosis. The diagnosis is still a dilemma on clinical examination and even its very difficult to get a specific diagnosis after imaging. Thus, biopsy can be an important tool to help in diagnosis and their suitable treatment. Objective: To provide specific, accurate and definitive diagnosis by correlating clinico-radiological findings with pathological examination to optimize management. Methods: We present a case series of 5 patients who presented with lacrimal gland mass with or without proptosis, defective vision, diplopia or restricted motility. These were evaluated radiologically which provide differential diagnosis that leads to a diagnostic challenge and their further management. So to reach a definitive diagnosis they were then correlated with histopathology with or without immunohistochemical stains by taking biopsy from the mass. Result and Conclusion: In our case series, we concluded that to make a confirmative diagnosis of the lacrimal gland tumors, the clinical and radiological findings should be correlated with the histopathological examination with or without immunohistochemical stains by biopsy and thus helps in rationalizing their further treatment.