Clinical and Radiological Features of Diffuse Lacrimal Gland Enlargement: Comparisons among Various Etiologies in 91 Biopsy-Confirmed Patients
- Author:
Sae Rom CHUNG
1
;
Gye Jung KIM
;
Young Jun CHOI
;
Kyung-Ja CHO
;
Chong Hyun SUH
;
Soo Chin KIM
;
Jung Hwan BAEK
;
Jeong Hyun LEE
;
Min Kyu YANG
;
Ho-Seok SA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2022;23(10):976-985
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:To compare the clinical and radiological features of various etiologies of chronic diffuse lacrimal gland enlargement.
Materials and Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 91 consecutive patients who underwent surgical biopsy for chronic diffuse lacrimal gland enlargement and were diagnosed with non-specific dacryoadenitis (DA) (n = 42), immunoglobulin G4-related dacryoadenitis (IgG4-RD) (n = 33), and lymphoma (n = 16). Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, and CT imaging findings (n = 73) and MRI (n = 43) were collected. The following radiologic features of lacrimal gland enlargement were evaluated: size, unilaterality, wedge sign, angle with the orbital wall, heterogeneity, signal intensity, degree of enhancement, patterns of dynamic contrast-enhanced, and apparent diffusion coefficient value. Radiological features outside the lacrimal glands, such as extra-lacrimal orbital involvement and extra-orbital head and neck involvement, were also evaluated. The clinical and radiological findings were compared among the three diseases.
Results:Compared to the DA and IgG4-RD groups, the lymphoma group was significantly older (mean 59.9 vs. 46.0 and 49.4 years, respectively; p = 0.001) and had a higher frequency of unilateral involvement (62.5% vs. 31.0% and 15.2%, respectively;p = 0.004). Compared to the IgG4-RD and lymphoma groups, the DA group had significantly smaller lacrimal glands (2.3 vs. 2.8 and 3.3 cm, respectively; p < 0.001) and a lower proportion of cases with a wedge sign (54.8% vs. 84.8% and 87.5%, respectively; p = 0.005). The IgG4-RD group showed more frequent involvement of the extra-orbital head and neck structures, including the infraorbital nerve (36.4%), paranasal sinus (72.7%), and salivary gland (58.6%) compared to the DA and lymphoma groups (4.8%–28.6%) (all p < 0.005).
Conclusion:Patient age, unilaterality, lacrimal gland size, wedge sign, and extra-orbital head and neck involvement differed significantly different between lymphoma, DA, and IgG4-RD. Our results will be useful for the differential diagnosis and proper management of chronic lacrimal gland enlargement.
