Clinicopathological survey of 23 patients with lacrimal fossa lesions in Hong Kong.

AIM To survey the clinicopathological correlations of lacrimal fossa lesions in the Hong Kong population. METHODS A total of 23 patients with lacrimal fossa lesions were identified radiologically. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52 year-old. The medical records of patients diagnosed with lacrimal fossa lesions and subsequently underwent radiological investigations were collected and reviewed retrospectively throughout a six years period from 2000 to 2006 from three regional hospitals (Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital) belonging to the Hong Kong Mega Cluster. Patient demographics, presenting signs and symptoms, imaging modalities, pathological reports and subsequent management were recorded. RESULTS The most common initial presenting symptom was upper lid swelling (83%) followed by proptosis (13%). 19 patients (83%) had benign lacrimal fossa lesion and 4 patients (17%) had malignancy. Three of the malignancies were lymphomas and one was adenoid cystic carcinoma. CONCLUSION Age is an important factor in considering the differential diagnosis of lacrimal fossa lesion. Lymphoproliferative diseases have the highest incidence in patients over 60 years of age while inflammatory lesions are more common in younger patients in Hong Kong.