Pleomorphic adenoma of the orbit – a case report

Background We present a patient case with a pleomorphic adenoma of the orbit. While this tumor entity is usually located in the parotid gland, it is a rarity when it arises from other glandular tissues. In this case we describe the occurrence of this benign tumor in an ectopic lacrimal gland.

Methods A 25-year-old patient suffered from paradoxal improved eyesight, progressive exophthalmos and double vision. An MRI-scan showed a well demarcated retrobulbar mass. Biopsy revealed a benign epithelial tumor of the lacrimal gland tissue consistent with a pleomorphic adenoma.

Results A surgical resection of the tumor by a lateral orbitotomy was performed. The postoperative ophthalmological examination resulted in an unimpaired vision, a declined double vision, but motional deficits caused by postoperative swelling. After 3 months a complete recovery of all symptoms was achieved.

Conclusions An ectopic retrobulbar lacrimal gland is a rare localization of a pleomorphic adenoma and can lead to an improvement of the eyesight through bulbar protrusion. Complete resection is the therapy of choice, though it may be challenging due to the limited size of the orbital cavity.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Juni 2020