Acute lacrimal gland swelling with intracranial extension and without any neurological features - A rare case report

We report a case of young adult female with swelling in the superolateral aspect of left orbit for two weeks which was diagnosed as tubercular dacryoadenitis with intracranial extension without any neurological features. Tubercular dacryoadenitis is very rare but still makes an important differential diagnosis of lacrimal gland swellings especially in endemic areas like India. Few cases of tubercular dacryoadenitis have been reported in the past; but not a single case with intracranial extension in young adults with short history and without neurological symptoms. Although radiological investigations are routinely done in orbital lesions, it is advisable do so even in acute cases to look for intracranial extension before the appearance of neurological features. Tubercular dacryoadenitis though rare, should be kept as a differential diagnosis of acute or chronic lacrimal gland swellings in endemic areas.