Synonyms in a broader sense
Medical: Glandula lacrimalis (lacrimal gland), tumor of the lacrimal gland, cancer of the tear ducts
Introduction
At the lacrimal gland there are – as at all other organs – malignant as well as benign tumors. They differ in their growth pattern and their ability to spread.
General information
Fortunately, benign tumors are more common than their malignant counterparts. The word tumor in the true sense of the word merely means swelling. Therefore, they can be either benign or malignant.
A tumor is called malignant if it destroys the surrounding healthy tissue through its growth and if it has the ability to spread metastases throughout the body. A benign tumor, although still a tumor, does not destroy surrounding tissue and rarely or never spreads metastases to other organs.
- Lacrimal gland
- Eye muscle
- Eyeball
- Iris (iris)
- Pupil
- Eye Socket
Benign tumor
The most common tumor of the lacrimal gland is the benign adenoma. Adenomas are benign tumors that originate from glandular tissue. They can occur in any glandular tissue (including salivary glands, thyroid gland, etc.).
The adenoma forms slowly and over time displaces the eyeball nasally (towards the nose) at the bottom. Only later do double images and movement disorders of the eye appear. The diagnosis is usually made by computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRT).
Removal in a healthy person is recommended as therapy. This means that the adenoma is removed completely and without leaving any residues. This is aimed at, since recurrences (recurrent tumors) usually degenerate malignantly.
Malignant tumor
Malignant tumors of the lacrimal gland are rare. Mostly they are mixed tumors of glandular and cystic (cysts are hollow spaces filled with fluid) parts.
What symptoms does the tumor cause?
There are different types of tumors of the lacrimal glands, malignant ones are distinguished from benign ones. The symptoms are usually similar in all types. In most cases, tumors of the lacrimal glands initially manifest themselves by an increasing swelling in the area of the eyelid.
The other symptoms depend on the direction of growth. Some tumors grow outwards so that they become visible early and may cause problems with eyelid closure. If they in turn grow inwards, this can lead to changes in the eyeball, shifts and visual disturbances.
For example, squinting of the eye can occur. The swelling can also be very painful under pressure. Frequent itching of the eyes or the release of substances can cause redness in the eye. A malignant tumor is usually referred to as a painless swelling, while a painful swelling is more likely to be an acute inflammation of the lacrimal gland.
