EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Objectives: To estimate the normal dimensions of lacrimal glands (LGs) in the Pakistani population using computed tomography (CT) scan and to determine the associations of LG dimensions with age, sex and laterality.

Methods: The study population included subjects aged ≥ 16 years without orbital pathology who underwent CT evaluation of both the right and left LGs at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro from 15^th October 2020 to 14^th February 2021. The mean axial length (AL), axial width (AW), coronal length (CL), and coronal width (CW) of each LG were measured separately.

Results: The 216 subjects enrolled in this study included 150 (69.4%) men and 66 (30.6%) women, with a mean age of 47 ± 20 years. Right and left LG dimensions were similar, including mean AL (13.53 ± 1.80 mm vs. 13.35 ± 1.72 mm), mean AW (4.20 ± 0.81 mm vs. 4.05 ± 0.93 mm), mean CL (15.46 ± 1.97 mm vs. 15.26 ± 1.87 mm), and mean CW (3.99 ± 0.80 mm vs. 3.86 ± 0.81 mm). The AL of both LGs and the CL and CW of right but not left LGs were significantly lower in women than in men. Age showed significant correlations with the AL and CL of both LGs.

Conclusion: These findings establish the normal range of LG dimensions in adult Pakistani populations. Some LG dimensions are smaller in women than in men, as well as correlating with age.

Keywords: Lacrimal Gland; Computed Tomography; Multiplanar

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