Biopsied lacrimal glands in Japanese cohort: clinical, radiologic and histopathologic analysis.
IgG4-related disease was the leading cause of lacrimal gland enlargement in this cohort.
Biopsied lacrimal glands in Japanese cohort: clinical, radiologic and histopathologic analysis.
To characterise the clinical, radiological and histopathological features of biopsied lacrimal glands in a Japanese population and to identify clinical parameters that may assist in differential diagnosis.
This retrospective review included consecutive patients who underwent incisional lacrimal gland biopsy between January 2016 and August 2025 at a tertiary referral centre in Japan.
IgG4-related disease was diagnosed in nearly half of biopsied patients
IgG4-ROD and lymphoma showed significantly higher rates of systemic involvement compared with IOI (P = 0.015) and bilateral disease was more common in IgG4-ROD (P = 0.010).
Lacrimal gland size tended to be larger in lymphoma and IgG4-ROD.
Of 58 bilateral cases biopsied on both sides, 57 showed identical histopathologic findings.
IgG4-ROD was the leading cause of lacrimal gland enlargement in this Japanese cohort, suggesting a higher prevalence than in other populations.
Integrating clinical factors such as age, laterality and systemic involvement enhances diagnostic accuracy. Unilateral biopsy is generally sufficient in bilateral cases.