Pleomorphic adenoma of ectopic tear glands

Abstract

The pleomorphic adenoma is one of the most frequent neoplasia that could be originated in the tear gland, but its origin in subconjunctival, palpebral and intraocular tissue has been scarcely reported. We present the case of a female patient aged 60 years with a hard, painful tumor in anterior orbit of fourth months’ evolution, located over the higher eyelid, of 8 mm plain surface; the computerized axial tomography shows a neoformative cystic V/S process. We carried out scissional biopsy finding a well-delimitated, biphasic-composition tumoral nodule with large amount of cartilaginous and mixed, myoepithelial, ductal epithelial and squamous elements, helping to establish the definite diagnosis   of pleomorphic adenoma. The ectopic lacrimal tissue is a dilemma and neoplasia originated in them is still a bigger problem. The advances in ophthalmologic surgery have allowed the early diagnosis and surgery of the tumoral lesions in this location for the patients’ sake.