Unusual Lacrimal Gland Tumor Epidemiology Explained

Pathologic Features, Treatment, and Clinical Outcomes of Lacrimal Gland Cancer

“…Two studies of data from the SEER database have been published elucidating characteristics and patterns of care for lacrimal gland tumors [5,6]. However, both studies have raised questions regarding the data presented [8,10,11]. In particular, both reported high rates of squamous cell carcinoma.…”

“…We excluded all tumors explicitly coded as situated in the lacrimal duct/sac; additionally, the newest cases included in the 2018 NCDB are also coded by lacrimal apparatus subsite using the SCHEMA_DISC_1 descriptor. We also excluded all squamous cell carcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas, both those without subsite codes and those explicitly coded as situated in the lacrimal gland, as these two histologies are considered extremely rare in the lacrimal gland, and likely reflect miscoding of malignancies in the lacrimal duct/sac [8]. Benign mixed tumors (pleomorphic adenoma) were excluded, and solitary fibrous tumors and fibrous histiocytomas were also excluded as all recorded cases of these tumors in the literature were benign [9].…”

“…However, a large fraction of cases analyzed in these studies represent histologies that are exceedingly rare in the lacrimal gland, including squamous cell carcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas. These tumors likely represent tumors from the lacrimal duct or lacrimal sac which have been miscoded [8]. Here, we present data from the NCDB on malignant lacrimal gland tumors, using published literature on lacrimal gland malignancy histologies to guide selection criteria, in order to elucidate pathologic characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes for this rare entity.…”