Abstract
The authors describe a relatively rare case of a 56-year-old female patient with a two-year history of painless swelling of the outer half of the upper eyelid and small exophthalmos. MRI scan showed a homogeneous tumour swelling of the lacrimal gland, which had the same signal density as ocular muscles on T2-weighted images.
After lateral orbitotomy with the removal of the entire tumour, histological examination showed an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) affecting the lacrimal gland. After comprehensive oncological, internist, radiological and haematological examinations, findings were concluded as a primary lymphoma of the lacrimal gland.
Orbital and systemic findings remain normal one year after the surgery. Conclusion: At present, it is necessary to consider lymphoma in the case of lacrimal gland tumours.
When the diagnosis is uncertain, it is recommended that a complete removal of the tumour is performed and, based on the histological results, that further diagnostic and therapeutic measures are continued.