The poor prognosis of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma: a clinical study and literature review

Purpose The incidence of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma is low. This study was designed to analyze the clinical and prognostic characteristics of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma. Methods This was a clinical study and literature review; 25 patients diagnosed with lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma by histopathology were enrolled and their medical history data were collected. Results The incidence of bone destruction and surrounding tissue invasion was 52% and 44%, respectively. The incidence of distant metastasis of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma was about 50%. The 5-year overall survival rate of death or metastasis was 33.5%. Age, sex, laterality, tumor size, pathology type, bone destruction, nerve or perineural invasion, invasion of peripheral tissue, T stage, AR, Her-2 and treatment had no significant correlation with lacrimal adenocarcinoma's prognosis (P > 0.05), while the higher expression of Ki-67 may have higher risk of death or metastasis (P = 0.020). Conclusion The incidence of bone destruction and distant metastasis of lacrimal adenocarcinoma is high and the imaging examination is necessary to assess the risk of distant metastasis. The 5-year survival rate of death or metastasis is 33.5% and the high expression of Ki-67 predicts poor prognosis of lacrimal adenocarcinoma.