Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common tumour of the lacrimal gland. Correct preoperative diagnosis is essential as the tumour should be removed en bloc. Incisional biopsy is contraindicated due to risk of recurrence and subsequent risk of malignancy. We identified 13 patients who were diagnosed with lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma in our institution over a 31-year period from 1990 to 2021. Of these, we describe four patients, three males and one female, who underwent incisional biopsy. One of these patients had a number of recurrences and required an orbital exenteration. The other two were treated with radiation to the orbit and experienced severe dry eye post-radiotherapy. All three patients are currently disease-free. The fourth patient underwent an incisional biopsy of his lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma (LGPA) within the last 6 months and has been referred for radiotherapy. The reasons for a lack of preoperative diagnosis of LGPA included clinical uncertainty and broad radiologic differential. None of the patients who had an en bloc resection experienced recurrence. We recommend that a fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy in lieu of a tissue biopsy should be performed where LGPA is included in the clinical and radiological differential diagnosis. If incisional biopsy is required, the suture track should be marked so that the entire biopsy track is removed with the specimen.
Keywords: Incisional biopsy; lacrimal gland; pleomorphic adenoma.