title: Basal cell cystadenoma of the lacrimal gland: diagnostic pitfalls of a basaloid pattern in lacrimal tumours.
abstract: An 85-year-old male experienced a painless swelling along the left lateral orbit for one year. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a cystic mass in the orbit adjacent to the lacrimal gland. There was a concern for malignancy considering the large size and the patient's age, so the tumour was excised. Histopathology of the tumour showed nests with basaloid patterns, but a definitive diagnosis was not rendered. The uncertainty of tissue diagnosis coupled with the basaloid pattern, which carries a grim prognosis in some salivary gland tumours, led us to refer this case to an authority on lacrimal gland pathology, who suggested that this tumour be called a basal cell cystadenoma. To the best of our knowledge, a basal cell cystadenoma of the lacrimal gland has not been reported in the literature. We present histopathological features that distinguish this tumour from malignant tumours with a basaloid pattern. We also discuss the management differences associated with basaloid patterns in lacrimal tumours.
authors.affiliation: The Eye Care Group, 40-60 Temple Street, Suite 5-B, New Haven, CT 06510-2715, USA. jonsilbert@theeyecaregroup.com
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Silbert
authors.forename: Puneet S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Braich
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braich
authors.forename: Raghunath P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003537:Cystadenoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male