Outcomes after eye-sparing surgery vs orbital exenteration in patients with lacrimal gland carcinoma

Head Neck. 2020 May;42(5):988-993. doi: 10.1002/hed.26073. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Abstract

Background: This study examined whether eye-sparing surgery is associated with better or worse outcomes than exenteration for the treatment of lacrimal gland carcinomas.

Methods: Forty-six patients treated for lacrimal gland carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed and compared. A statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier plots.

Results: The overall survival rates for eye-sparing surgery were 52% and 37% at 5 and 10 years, and those for exenteration were 37% and 25% at 5 and 10 years, respectively (P = .73). The proportion of patients with local regional control at both 5 and 10 years after eye-sparing surgery was 0.75, and that for exenteration was 0.47 (P = .30). For eye-sparing surgery, the proportions of distant metastasis-free survival at 5 and 10 years were 0.51 and 0.39 for eye-sparing surgery and 0.29 and 0.14 for exenteration (P = .50).

Conclusion: Because the outcomes were not significantly different, the authors suggest that eye-sparing surgery can be proposed as a reasonable approach for lacrimal gland carcinomas in appropriately selected patients.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma*
  • Eye Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases*
  • Lacrimal Apparatus* / surgery
  • Orbital Neoplasms*
  • Retrospective Studies