A new cause of lacrimal gland calcification: Retained metallic foreign bodies. (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brent, Alexander J.; Mota, Peter M.; Saldanha, Gerald; Vaidhyanath, Ram; Sampath, Raghavan
• Is Part Of: Orbit. Volume 36:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: Calcification -- carcinoma -- foreign body -- lacrimal gland -- malignancy; Eye-sockets -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Eye-sockets -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Orbit -- surgery -- Periodicals; Orbital Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1080/01676830.2017.1279651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-6830

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A 49-year-old male presented with a 4 month history of dysaesthesia in the left periorbital region. A CT scan showed a lacrimal gland mass with areas of dense calcification. Biopsies of the left lacrimal gland revealed a silver material with associated chronic granulomatous inflammation and secondary calcification. The histological specimen was sent for X-ray microanalysis. This confirmed the silver material to be aluminium. The metal fragments were subsequently discovered to be from a car aerial, which caused an orbital impaling injury 20 years prior to presentation. This is the first reported case of lacrimal gland calcification secondary to chronic metal foreign body exposure. The case is presented alongside literature reviews of lacrimal gland calcification and associated radiological findings.