title: Lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark between 1974 and 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence rate, distribution, patient characteristics and indications for surgical intervention of lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark between 1974 and 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  All biopsied/surgically removed lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark during the period 1974-2007 were identified by searching two population-based registries. Specimens were collected and re-evaluated. The following data were collected: age, gender, indications for surgical intervention and local recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 232 lesions from 210 patients with a histologically verified lesion of the lacrimal gland were included. The incidence rate of lacrimal gland lesions was 1.3/1 000 000/year. The overall annual age- and gender-adjusted incidence rate more than doubled during the study period, owing to an increase in non-malignant lesions. Approximately half of the lesions were neoplasms (119) and 55% (66) of these were malignant. Dacryops constituted 10% (24), inflammatory lesions 27% (62), normal tissue 12% (27), benign tumours 23% (53) and malignant tumours 29% (66). Patients with malignant neoplasms were significantly older than patients with benign neoplasms (63 versus 48 years, p < 0.001). The indication for surgical intervention was suspicion of a tumour in more than 90% of the neoplastic lesions and in 30% of the non-neoplastic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lacrimal gland lesions that require surgical evaluation are rare in the Danish population and represent a wide spectrum of diagnoses, mostly benign. The overall incidence rate of biopsied lacrimal gland lesions is increasing.
authors.affiliation: Eye Pathology Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sarah Linéa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: von Holstein
authors.forename: Marianne Hamilton
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Therkildsen
authors.forename: Jan Ulrik
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: Volkert Dirk
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Siersma
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heegaard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology*; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult