Imaging of Lacrimal Gland Pathologies: A Radiological Pattern-Based Approach

Despite their unassuming size, lacrimal glands can have a variety of pathologies affecting them which often poses a diagnostic challenge clinically in view of their nonspecific presentation as palpable lump in the superolateral aspect of the orbit. There are a myriad of pathological entities ranging from inflammatory to neoplastic lesions that can affect the lacrimal glands. Cross-sectional imaging is must for the detection, characterization, and mapping of these lesions. In this pictorial review, we propose a radiological pattern-based approach for various lacrimal gland lesions that provides a working algorithm for radiologists in the evaluation of lacrimal gland pathologies.