Computed Tomography Dimensions of the Lacrimal Gland in Normal Caucasian Orbits

Abstract

This study presents a normal range of Caucasian lacrimal gland dimensions seen on CT. Lacrimal gland size decreases with age, and no gender difference exists. This range can aid in differentiating diseased and nondiseased lacrimal glands, especially when correlated with physical examination. This may be useful in clinical trials that involve lacrimal gland size.

Evaluation of Lacrimal Gland Dimensions and Volume in Turkish Population with Computed Tomography

“…Studies both performed with MRI and CT reported a decrease in the lacrimal gland sizes with increasing age [5,6,13]. Also, in our study, there was a negative correlation between age and gland dimensions and volume.…”

“…The other dimensions were variable. The coronal length was longer and axial and coronal widths were shorter than that observed by Tamboli et al, in a Caucasian population [6]. According to the study of a Korean population, the axial width was equal with the right orbits but smaller in the left in our study [11].…”

“…Tamboli et al, published the first study establishing non-diseased LG dimensions with CT [6]. They calculated LG dimensions in Caucasian patients with normal LGs.…”

“…Coronal reformatted images were constituted with DICOM imaging viewer (Aquarius 3D Workstation, Tera Recon, San Mateo, CA, USA). Both axial and coronal images were evaluated with a soft-tissue algorithm [6]. One image for measuring gland dimensions was chosen from axial and coronal images, in which LG was the largest.…”

Anatomy of the Lacrimal System

“…The size of the lacrimal gland decreases with age but does not vary by gender [ 40 ]. The orbital lobe is the larger of the two lobes and lies posterior to the orbital septum and preaponeurotic fat and anterior to the levator aponeurosis [ 38 ].…”