Disappearance of Primitive Basaloid Cells after External Irradiation in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland(cid:31)
Suppapong Tirakunwichcha MD*, Wasee Tulvatana MD*
Affiliation : (cid:31) Presented in part as a poster at the second SERI-ARVO Meeting on Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, February 16-20, 2005, Singapore * Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objective : To study the histopathological findings of basaloid adenoid cystic carcinoma after high dose
orbital irradiation.
Materials and Methods : The histopathology study was done in a 38-year-old Thai female patient who had
basaloid adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right lacrimal gland confirmed by incisional biopsy. After a 60-Gy
external irradiation, the mass decreased in size and finally could not be palpated, but subsequent orbital
imaging still showed infiltrative soft tissue mass at the right lacrimal gland with bony defects at posterosuperior
and lateral walls without extraorbital extension. Orbital exenteration and lateral orbitectomy was performed.
The specimen was submitted for histopathological examination.
Results : Microscopic examination revealed periglandular infiltration with chronic inflammation of the
palpebral lobe of lacrimal gland. The orbital lobe was extensively replaced with fibrous tissue. There was
only a small area of cribiform pattern of the adenoid cystic carcinoma left; no basaloid pattern was seen in
the tissue.
Conclusion : The primitive cells (basaloid pattern) disappear after orbital irradiation for adenoid cystic
carcinoma of the lacrimal gland. Replacement with fibrous tissue is seen.
Keywords : Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Lacrimal gland, Basaloid pattern, External beam radiation
