Lacrimal fossa lesions: a review of 146 cases in Egypt

• Published in: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) N.Z.), 2014-01, Vol.8 (default), p.1603-1609
• Main Authors: Eldesouky, Mohammed A, Elbakary, Molham A, Sabik, Saly, Shareef, Mohamed M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Age; clinical and imaging criteria; Criteria; Cysts; Deltas; Diagnosis; Imaging; Inflammation; lacrimal gland; Lacrimal organs; Lesions; Lymphoma; Medical examination; Medical imaging; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Ophthalmology; Original Research; Patients; Tomography; tumor; Tumors
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483; 1177-5483
• DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S64703

The incidence and clinical and imaging criteria of different pathological forms of lacrimal fossa lesions in the Delta region of Egypt were studied. A retrospective study of patients with lacrimal fossa lesions for the past 10 years was conducted. A total of 146 cases were identified. Their medical records were reviewed for clinical and imaging data (computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging scan, or both). A definitive diagnosis based on pathological examination of biopsies was also reviewed. Among the patients reviewed, 43.15% had inflammatory lacrimal gland lesions, 26.71% had lymphoproliferative lesions, and 21.92% had epithelial lesions; 8.22% had rare lesions (5.48% were dacryops and 2.74% had hemangioma). The study included 71.92% benign lesions and 28.08% malignant lesions, which were distributed between 19.18% malignant lymphoma and 8.9% malignant epithelial tumors. According to the pathological origin of the lesions, they may be classified into 78.08% nonepithelial lesions and 21.92% epithelial lesions (16.44% epithelial tumors, and 5.48% dermoid cysts). Lacrimal fossa lesions show a wide pathological range. Inflammatory lesions are most frequent, followed by lymphoproliferative and epithelial lesions. Analysis of clinical and radiological criteria is helpful in the differential diagnosis of lacrimal gland lesions.