title: Stones in the lacrimal gland: a rare condition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stones (dacryoliths) in the lacrimal drainage system are relatively common. However, stones in the lacrimal gland itself are very rare. We present three cases of lacrimal gland stones and describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics and composition of the stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients presented with swelling in the lateral canthal region of several months' duration. Clinical examination in each case revealed a mass adjacent to the lacrimal gland. We carried out surgical excision, histological examination and Raman spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathological examination of the excised material showed an eosinophilic, amorphic material organized in lamellae and localized in a ductule. The findings were consistent with a stone in the lacrimal gland in all three cases. All stones were composed of proteins of similar types. After surgery, the three patients healed without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lacrimal gland stones represent a very rare but relevant differential diagnosis when a patient presents with unilateral persistent conjunctivitis or with a tumour in the lateral canthus. Treatment is excision under local anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye Pathology, Institute of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halborg
authors.forename: Jan Ulrik
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.forename: Peter Bjerre
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skjødt
authors.forename: Niels Rath
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Tommerup
authors.forename: Ole Faurskov
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D035583:Rare Diseases; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman