Clinicopathologic features of biopsied lacrimal gland masses in 95 Korean patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinicopathologic features of lacrimal gland masses biopsied in a tertiary referral hospital in Korea. METHODS: Records from 95 Korean patients who underwent lacrimal gland mass biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. Data included demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, histopathologic diagnosis, and associated systemic disease. RESULTS: The median age was 52.0 years (range, 16-76 years), and 51 patients (53.7%) were female. Thirty-three patients (34.7%) had bilateral disease. The histopathologic diagnoses were as follows: chronic dacryoadenitis (52.6%, n = 50;29 non-specific and 21 immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD)), lymphoproliferative disease (25.5%, n = 24; 18 lymphoma and six lymphoid hyperplasia), benign epithelial tumour (13.7%, 13 pleomorphic adenoma), malignant epithelial tumour (3.2%, three adenoid cystic carcinoma), dacryops (3.2%, n = 3), solitary fibrous tumour (1.1%, n = 1), and xanthogranulomatous inflammation (1.1%, n = 1). Patients with chronic dacryoadenitis were significantly more likely to be younger (mean 47.5 years), have bilateral involvement (52.0%), and have a longer symptom period (mean 15.6 months) than those with lymphoproliferative disease (60.0 years, 25.0%, and 6.7 months, respectively; p < 0.05, each comparison). Patients with IgG4-related dacryoadenitis were significantly more likely to have bilateral involvement (85.7%) and have associated systemic involvement (52.4%) than those with non-specific dacryoadenitis (37.9 and 0%, respectively; p < 0.05, each comparison). Sixteen patients (16.8%) had associated systemic involvement: 11 with IgG4-RD and 5 with lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic dacryoadenitis and lymphoproliferative disease were the most common causes of lacrimal gland masses in our cohort. Younger patients with bilateral involvement and a longer symptom period were more likely to have chronic dacryoadenitis than lymphoproliferative disease. Associated systemic involvement was not rare in patients with IgG4-RD or lymphoma. Our results suggest that biopsy of chronic lacrimal gland masses should be performed for proper evaluation and management.

Repeated injections of botulinum toxin-A for epiphora in lacrimal drainage disorders: qualitative and quantitative assessment.

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of repeated botulinum toxin-A (BTA) injections in the lacrimal glands in patients with epiphora. METHODS: We performed retrospective chart review of patients who were injected with 2.5 units of BTA in the lacrimal gland. Epiphora and tear production were assessed by the Munk score and Schirmer-1 test, respectively, pre-injection and at 1 and 3 months post injection. Regarding repeated injections, the effects of the first were compared to those of the second and third injections. RESULTS: Forty-six eyes of 35 patients had an average of 2.3 injections per eye (range, 1-6). The mean Munk score significantly decreased from 3.72 to 1.87 at 1 month (p < 0.001) and 2.21 at 3 months (p < 0.001) after injection. The mean Schirmer-1 score also significantly decreased from 15.35 mm to 10.52 mm at 1 month (p < 0.001) and 12.48 mm at 3 months (p < 0.001) after injection. The mean reduction rates of Munk and Schirmer-1 scores after the second (66.1% and 29.8%, respectively) and the third injections (56.1% and 23.3%, respectively) were not significantly different from those after the first injection (63.3% and 26.1%, respectively) (p > 0.05 for each comparison). There was a significant correlation between the difficulty in exposing the lacrimal gland for injection and the risk of complication (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: BTA injection in the lacrimal gland showed favourable outcomes; repeated injections did not compromise efficacy. BTA injection can be safely repeated for epiphora, especially in patients whose lacrimal gland can be easily exposed.

Non-incisional eyelid everting suture technique for treating lower lid epiblepharon.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated surgical outcomes of full-thickness eyelid everting sutures for lower lid epiblepharon and influential factors leading to surgical failure. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with lower lid epiblepharon who underwent surgical correction using the full-thickness eyelid everting suture technique. Lower lid epiblepharon was assessed preoperatively using a morphological classification (class I-IV) according to the horizontal skin fold height and a functional classification (grade 0-3) according to the severity of keratopathy. Four stitches with 5-0 coated polyglactin 910 sutures per eyelid were made, and all procedures were conducted under local anaesthesia in an office-based setting. To assess surgical outcomes, we evaluated undercorrection at 1 month and surgical failure at 6 months after the procedure. Several factors affecting surgical failure were also investigated RESULTS: Sixty-eight eyes of 41 patients were included. There were no eyes showing an undercorrection at 1 month. Keratopathy was significantly improved at 6 months postoperation (P<0.01). All patients showed good cosmesis without undesired creation of a lower lid crease and no significant complications. Sixty-one eyes (89.7%) showed surgical success. Three patients (7.3%) required additional incisional surgery due to recurring irritation. The rate of surgical failure was significantly different between the patient groups classified by preoperative severity of keratopathy (P=0.026) and lower lid horizontal skin fold height (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the lower lid horizontal skin fold height was significantly correlated with surgical failure (OR 18.367, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Non-incisional eyelid everting sutures have utility for the correction of lower lid epiblepharon with advantages including its simplicity, being performed in office under local anaesthesia and minimal changes in appearance. We suggest mild to moderate epiblepharon with class I or II horizontal skin fold height and grade 1 or 2 keratopathy as the criteria for considering this suture procedure.