Clinical Evaluation of Lacrimal Gland Ductal Disease

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of lacrimal gland ductal disease, a rare disease often mistaken for other diseases. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 11 patients (11 eyes, 5 males, 6 females) diagnosed with lacrimal ductal disease between March 2007 and April 2013 was performed. RESULTS: Among 11 eyes in 11 patients, 4 were diagnosed with dacryops and 7 with lacrimal gland ductulitis initiated by dacryolith. The mean age of the subjects was 47.9 years (range, 30-80 years). Lacrimal gland ductulitis patients received treatment for conjunctivitis or hordeolum for several months. Four cases involved the right eye and 7 cases involved the left eye. Symptoms included foreign body sensation, pus-like discharge and palpable mass. Biopsy was performed in 3 cases and showed no specific findings. Patients with dacryops underwent marsupialization, whereas patients diagnosed with lacrimal gland ductulitis underwent excision and dacryolith curettage. During the 2-month follow-up period, all cases showed no signs of recurrence or complications. CONCLUSIONS: Lacrimal gland ductal disease can be mistaken for other diseases such as conjunctivitis, hordeolum, or orbital cyst, thus requiring accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.

A Case of Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Eyelid

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of a painless mass on the lower lid, histologically diagnosed as primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the eyelid. CASE SUMMARY: A 74-year-old male presented with a painless mass on the right lower lid which had developed seven months prior to presentation. Incisional biopsy of the mass and attached lower lid skin was performed, revealing signet ring cell carcinoma. A systemic evaluation, including whole body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), chest CT, abdomen and pelvis CT, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and colonoscopy, revealed no other abnormal lesions. Therefore, the eyelid lesion was considered primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the skin and was treated with radiotherapy of 6600 cGy in 33 fractions over 7 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, the authors report a rare case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the eyelid with no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis for 5 years after radiotherapy.