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Dacryoadenitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Dacryoadenitis is rare, usually on one side. Dacryoadenitis occurs as a complication of common infections - flu, acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis, mumps, scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc. Bacterial dacryoadenitis is caused by penetrating trauma, erysipelas, gonorrheal conjunctivitis, endogenous uveitis.
Acute dacryoadenitis begins with pain and swelling in the upper outer angle of the orbit, profuse lacrimation. The palpebral fissure narrows and takes on a characteristic S-shape. When pulling the eyelid back, an enlarged palpebral portion of the lacrimal gland can be seen. In some cases, the gland's compaction and swelling are so significant that the eyeball can shift downwards and inwards, and its mobility is limited. There is pain and hyperemia of the outer part of the upper eyelid, fever, headache, and general malaise. There may be hyperemia and swelling of the conjunctiva of the eyeball. Enlargement and pain of the parotid lymph nodes are often observed. Dacryoadenitis usually resolves spontaneously, but sometimes progresses to suppuration and atrophy of the lacrimal gland.
Chronic dacryoadenitis most often occurs in the form of Mikulicz syndrome: symmetrical and painless enlargement of the lacrimal and salivary glands, parotid glands with concomitant dry keratoconjunctivitis and xerostomia (dry mouth).
Treatment of dacryoadenitis: antibiotics, sulfonamides, desensitizing agents, analgesics, antipyretics; dry heat, UHF therapy. In case of abscess formation, the abscess is opened and the lesion is drained.
Tuberculous dacryoadenitis. The disease differs from dacryoadenitis of other etiologies by the absence of pronounced signs of inflammation and pain syndrome. The lacrimal gland is of a dense consistency, increased in volume, which often leads to an erroneous diagnosis of the neoplasm. To clarify the diagnosis, a puncture and biopsy are performed. In some cases, X-ray examination reveals calcifications in the lacrimal gland. Foci of ossification with a rough connective tissue capsule and petrifications in their circumference can be detected in the lacrimal gland. The ossification focus develops in the area of caseous decay and is a focus of early metastasis from the primary complex.
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