Clinicopathologic Features of Epithelial Lacrimal Gland Tumors in Ibadan

Orbit and Oculoplasty

Abstract

Introduction: Lacrimal gland masses account for 5 to 13% of all surgical specimens from the orbit1,2 and are traditionally classified as 50% epithelial and 50% non-epithelial in origin3 . However, recent studies1,4 have reported that the proportion of epithelial lacrimal gland tumors is lower than earlier documented. Epithelial lacrimal gland tumors comprise benign and malignant lesions with the proportion of benign tumors to malignant tumors reported to be 55% benign and 45% malignant5. However, higher proportion of benign tumors have been reported among Asians compared to Caucasians in recent studies suggesting regional variability in the pattern of distribution of these tumors6 . Hence, we prospectively studied all cases of histologically confirmed epithelial lacrimal gland tumors managed at a tertiary center in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical features, histopathologic profile and  treatment of epithelial lacrimal gland tumors in a homogenous black African population

Methods: Included in this study are all patients with histopathological diagnoses of epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland managed at the Oculoplasty and Ocular oncology Unit, Eye Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between July 2008 and June 2018. The information recorded for the patients included their demographics, presenting symptoms and duration, findings on clinical examination, radiological investigations, operative findings, histopathological details, and post-operative management.