Disorders of the Lacrimal Gland

Lacrimal gland swelling constitutes about 5–10% of all orbital masses [1–3]. A good indication of the likely lacrimal gland disease may be derived from the history and clinical features [4–8] and, although rarely pathognomonic, imaging is often strongly suggestive [9–15]. The diagnosis and management of lacrimal gland pathology changed dramatically with the advent of computed X-ray tomography (CT) in 1974, this enabling accurate estimates of size and borders, recognition of intrinsic calcification, and the assessment of expansion or erosion of neighbouring bone—bone erosion and tumour calcification being “red flags” for lacrimal gland malignancy [16]. Soft-tissue characterization improved further with the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).