Adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland: resection and reconstructive surgery

Malignant epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland are rare ( less than 5% of all orbital lesions ). The most frequent epithelial tumor is primary adenoid cystic carcinoma followed by pleomorphic carcinoma (1,2). Early metastases tend to develop in these tumors, and there is less chance of survival compared with other malignant neoplasms in these areas, such as squamous cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid tumors (3,4). The introduction of new surgical techniques (5,6), as well as new diagnostic and treatment methods (7,8), has increased the chance of long-term survival of patients with malignant neoplasms in the orbital region. The case of a patient with adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland treated surgically with transcranial and transpalpebral orbital resection is described.