Lacrimal fossa lesions: a review of 146 cases in Egypt

PURPOSE The incidence and clinical and imaging criteria of different pathological forms of lacrimal fossa lesions in the Delta region of Egypt were studied. METHODS 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. RESULTS 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). CONCLUSION 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.