Infantile simple dacryops: clinicopathological correlation and immunocharacterization

Giant Lacrimal Gland Cyst in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Lacrimal gland cysts are rare clinical entities in the pediatric population. Herein is described a 6-year-old male patient presenting with progressive left upper lid ptosis, found to have a large ipsilateral superotemporal orbital mass. Diagnosis of a giant lacrimal gland cyst was confirmed excisional biopsy. Despite the resolution of mechanical blepharoptosis, the patient maintained visual acuity limitation due to suspected deprivation amblyopia. The pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of lacrimal gland cysts in the pediatric population are reviewed to emphasize the importance of expedited identification and management in this patient cohort.

Dacryops and clinical diagnostic challenges

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to describe the clinical and histopathologic features of different types of dacryops and their clinical diagnostic challenges.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of all surgically excised cases of dacryops in 2 tertiary eye hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

The study included 58 dacryops specimens from 55 patients with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 4-78 years). The most common location was the upper lid (60.3%), whereas the least expected location was the caruncle (6.9%). The most common site of dacryops occurrence was in the accessory lacrimal gland (55.2%), the main lacrimal gland (32.8%), and then ectopic dacryops (12%). All patients presented with lid swelling alone except for 3 patients who experienced secondary mechanical ptosis. On physical examination, conjunctival scarring existed in 4 patients (6.9%). Preoperative diagnosis of dacryops was accurate in 44.8% of the cases. Dacryops of the main lacrimal gland was accurately diagnosed clinically in all cases compared with other locations, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The causes of inaccurate clinical diagnoses were hidrocystoma (26.9%), inclusion cyst (11.5%), and dermoid cyst (7.7%), whereas the remaining cases were diagnosed as cysts without a specific subtype (53.9%). Recurrence of the lesion was observed in 2 cases (3.5%). No clinical or histopathologic factors were associated with a risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Dacryops can represent a diagnostic challenge to ophthalmologists. Familiarity with clinical presentations and findings is required to diagnose dacryops outside the main lacrimal gland.

Dacryops of the lacrimal gland in an elderly woman: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Dacryops is a rare benign cystic lesion of the lacrimal gland often developing in the palpebral gland. The exact etiology of dacryops remains unclear. Diagnosis could be suspected clinically and established histopathologically. Treatment is commonly surgical.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with past history of total conservative parotidectomy for a benign tumor 10 years ago. She presented to the Ophtalmology Department at Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse with a painful swelling of the left supero-external orbital angle. The patient underwent complete excision of the cyst using the conjunctival approach. Histopathological examination showed characteristic features of dacryops with foci of chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates.

DISCUSSION

Dacryops is commonly seen in young adults or middle-aged individuals with a slight female preponderance. In some cases, cystic enlargement of dacryops can lead to mechanical ptosis, dystopia, limitation of extraocular movements, diplopia, and, in rare cases, blepharoptosis. However in this case, the patient was an elderly woman presenting a painless mass without ptosis. As in our case, excision using the conjunctival approach under microscope has excellent results without complications. Histopathological examination confirms the diagnosis and helps to rule out differential diagnoses.

CONCLUSION

As reported in the present case, histopathological examination confirms clinically recognized or suspected dacryops. If untreated, dacryops may lead to ptosis, proptosis and/or dystopia. Complete excision of the cyst is often curative.

Bilateral temporal dacryops in a cat

A 1-year-old Maine Coon female spayed cat was presented for a 7-week history of bilateral pinkish masses located over the dorsotemporal conjunctival quadrants. Ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of bilateral temporal, slightly hyperemic, subconjunctival masses, fluctuant, and nonpainful. The remainder of the ocular examination was unremarkable. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and B-scan ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a bilateral cavitated and tubular structure, extending within the temporal orbit, with anechoic fluid-like content. Surgical removal was performed. Histopathology described the lesions as lacrimal gland tissue, markedly infiltrated by inflammatory cells, associated with cavitated structures filled with proteinaceous debris, and lined by flattened bilayered cuboidal epithelial cells. Bilateral adenitis of unknown origin and dacryops of the temporal lacrimal glands were diagnosed. Both surgical sites healed uneventfully, and no recurrence was reported on either eye during a 12-month follow-up period.