Dacryoadenitis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Keywords and Synonyms: Blocked tear duct
Overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Dacryoadenitis is inflammation of the lacrimal glands (the tear-producing glands).
Diagnosis
Physical Examination
Dacryoadenitis can be diagnosed by examination of the eyes and lids.
CT
Special tests such as a CT scan may be required to search for the cause.
Other Diagnostic Studies
Sometimes biopsy will be needed to be sure that a tumor of the lacrimal gland is not present.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
If the cause of dacryoadenitis is a viral condition such as mumps, simple rest and warm compresses may be all that is needed. For other causes, the treatment is specific to the causative disease.
Primary Prevention
Mumps can be prevented by immunization. Gonococcus, the bacteria causing gonorrhea, can be avoided by the use of condoms. Most other causes cannot be prevented.
References
Historical Perspective
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Classification
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Pathophysiology
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Causes
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farman Khan, MD, MRCP [2] Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.
Overview
Dacryoadenitis is usually caused by bacterial or viral infection. Life-threatening causes that should be identified immediately include malignant neoplasms and leukemia, as well as fatal infections conditions such as syphilis and tuberculosis.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Lacrimal gland tumors
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis
Common Causes
- Autoimmune diseases
- Brucellosis
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Epstein-barr virus
- Gonococcus
- Lyme disease
- Measles
- Mumps
- Sjögren syndrome
- Staphyloccus
- Viral infection
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | No underlying causes |
| Chemical/Poisoning | No underlying causes |
| Dental | No underlying causes |
| Dermatologic | Measles, Mumps |
| Drug Side Effect | No underlying causes |
| Ear Nose Throat | Sjögren syndrome |
| Endocrine | Grave’s disease, Thyroid eye disease |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic | No underlying causes |
| Genetic | No underlying causes |
| Hematologic | Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Lymphoma |
| Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
| Infectious Disease | Brucellosis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cysticercus cellulosae, Epstein-barr virus, Gonococcus, Influenza, Lyme disease, Measles, Mumps, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Staphyloccus, Syphilis, Treponema pallidum, Tuberculosis, Urethritis, Viral infection |
| Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | No underlying causes |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
| Oncologic | Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Lacrimal gland tumors, Lymphoma, Orbital pseudotumour |
| Ophthalmologic | Lacrimal gland tumors, Orbital pseudotumour, Thyroid eye disease |
| Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | Sarcoidosis, Tuberculosis |
| Renal/Electrolyte | Wegener’s granulomatosis |
| Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | Autoimmune diseases, Grave’s disease, Lyme disease, Reactive arthritis, Sarcoidosis, Sjögren syndrome, Wegener’s granulomatosis |
| Sexual | Chlamydia trachomatis, Syphilis, Treponema pallidum |
| Trauma | No underlying causes |
| Urologic | Urethritis |
| Miscellaneous | No underlying causes |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
- Autoimmune diseases
- Brucellosis
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Cysticercus cellulosae
- Epstein-barr virus
- Gonococcus
- Grave’s disease
- Influenza
- Lacrimal gland tumors
- Lyme disease
- Lymphoma
- Measles
- Mumps
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Neisseria gonorrhoea
- Orbital pseudotumour
- Reactive arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Sjögren syndrome
- Staphyloccus
- Syphilis
- Thyroid eye disease
- Treponema pallidum
- Tuberculosis
- Urethritis
- Viral infection
- Wegener’s granulomatosis
References
Differentiating Dacryoadenitis from other Diseases
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Epidemiology and Demographics
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Risk Factors
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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Complications
Swelling may be severe enough to put pressure on the eye and distort vision. Some patients first thought to have dacryoadenitis may turn out to have a malignancy of the lacrimal gland.
Prognosis
Most patients will fully recover from dacryoadenitis. For conditions with more serious causes, such as sarcoidosis, the prognosis is that of the underlying condition.
References
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | CT | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies
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