Dacryoadenitis 

  • Author: Gagan J Singh, MD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 1, 2011
 

Background

The lacrimal gland is located in the supratemporal orbit. Two lobes exist, the orbital and the palpebral. The palpebral lobe is visualized easily by upper lid eversion. This eccrine secretory gland is responsible for the formation of the aqueous layer of the tear film.

By definition, dacryoadenitis is an inflammatory enlargement of the lacrimal gland. Dacryoadenitis may be separated into acute and chronic syndromes with infectious or systemic etiology.

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Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology is not understood completely. Yet, infectious dacryoadenitis is thought to be caused by ascension of an inciting agent from the conjunctiva through the lacrimal ductules into the lacrimal gland.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Dacryoadenitis is uncommon; therefore, data about its prevalence are sparse. One in 10,000 ophthalmic patients has dacryoadenitis according to one report. Inflammatory enlargement of the lacrimal gland is much more common than lacrimal gland tumors.

Mortality/Morbidity

No data are available. Acute dacryoadenitis tends to be a self-limiting condition. Patients with chronic dacryoadenitis need management of their systemic condition.

Race

No racial predilection is noted.

Sex

No sexual predilection is noted.

Age

No age predilection is noted.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Gagan J Singh, MD  Chief of Ophthalmology, GMS Medical Eye Center, LLC; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, West Virginia University School of Medicine

Gagan J Singh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Richard Ahuja, MD  Clinical Instructor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland Medical School

Richard Ahuja, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Ron W Pelton, MD, PhD  Private Practice, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ron W Pelton, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, AO Foundation, and Colorado Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD  Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark T Duffy, MD, PhD  Consulting Staff, Division of Oculoplastic, Orbito-facial, Lacrimal and Reconstructive Surgery, Green Bay Eye Clinic, BayCare Clinic; Medical Director, Advanced Cosmetic Solutions, A BayCare Clinic

Mark T Duffy, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sigma Xi, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Allergan - Botox Cosmetic Consulting fee Consulting

Lance L Brown, OD, MD  Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Kubal A, Garibaldi DC. Dacryoadenitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. Jan-Feb 2008;24(1):50-1. [Medline].

  2. Nieto JC, Kim N, Lucarelli MJ. Dacryoadenitis and orbital myositis associated with lyme disease. Arch Ophthalmol. Aug 2008;126(8):1165-6. [Medline].

  3. Kamao T, Miyazaki T, Soga Y, et al. Genetic dissociation of dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis in a Sjogren's syndrome mouse model with common and different susceptibility gene loci. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. Feb 14 2009;[Medline].

  4. Boruchoff SA, Boruchoff SE. Infections of the lacrimal system. Infect Dis Clin North Am. Dec 1992;6(4):925-32. [Medline].

  5. Brindley GO. Dacryoadenitis. In: Oculoplastic and Orbital Emergencies. Appleton & Lange: 1990:45-50.

  6. Fitzsimmons TD, Wilson SE, Kennedy RH. Infectious dacryoadenitis. In: Ocular Infection and Immunity. St Louis, Mo: Mosby; 1996:1341-45.

  7. Jakobiec FA, Yeo JH, Trokel SL, et al. Combined clinical and computed tomographic diagnosis of primary lacrimal fossa lesions. Am J Ophthalmol. Dec 1982;94(6):785-807. [Medline].

  8. Massaro BM, Tabbara KF. Infections of lacrimal apparatus. In: Infections of the Eye. Boston: Little Brown; 1996:551-8.

  9. Podos SM, Yanoff M. Acute dacryoadenitis. In: Textbook of Ophthalmology - External Disease. Europe: Mosby-Year Book; 1994:1414-6.

  10. Rhem MN, Wilhelmus KR, Jones DB. Epstein-Barr virus dacryoadenitis. Am J Ophthalmol. Mar 2000;129(3):372-5. [Medline].

  11. Tomita M, Shimmura S, Tsubota K, Shimazaki J. Dacryoadenitis associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis. Arch Ophthalmol. Sep 2006;124(9):1239-42. [Medline].

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