Management of lacrimal fossa masses

Mass lesions of the lacrimal fossa are evenly divided between epithelial and nonepithelial diseases. Nonepithelial lesions include pseudotumor, benign lymphoid hyperplasia, lymphoma, and sarcoid. Epithelial lesions are evenly divided between benign and malignant neoplasia, and are similar to those of the salivary glands. Benign mixed tumors compose 25% of lacrimal gland tumors, and are very slow-growing, painless lesions that should be removed en bloc without a biopsy to avoid seeding the orbit. Adenoid cystic and malignant mixed carcinomas are the most common malignancies, and present with rapid growth and pain. These require incisional biopsy to establish the diagnosis, and then a radical exenteration and postoperative radiation therapy.