DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i01.065

Pages: 329-332

Primary malignant epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland are rare. Forty cases of lacrimal gland tumors were diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Hyderabad over a period of seven years from 2008 to 2014. The age range was from the second to eighth decades. Females were more commonly affected. Histologically, malignant epithelial tumors occurred less frequently than the benign. There were nine cases of primary malignant epithelial tumors constituting 22.5% of the total epithelial tumors. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) was the commonest malignancy. The dominant histologic pattern determines the prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. A rare case each of carcinoma-ex-pleomorphic adenoma (CEPA) and squamous cell carcinoma were reported. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly alter the prognosis of some of the tumors. Long term follow up is advocated in the management of these tumors.