Pediatric mri lacrimal gland dimensions

Purpose: Many diseases can be associated with lacrimal gland (LG) enlargement. However, when presented with a child with a questionably enlarged LG on MRI, we found no known normal dimensions published in the Radiology or Ophthalmology literature. We retrospectively reviewet. head MRIs to determine the maximal dimensions of the LG in a pédiatrie pc pulation. Methods: Two observers (CG, PS) independently reviewed 40 axial head MRIs of 39 patients, aged 1 -180 months. The MRI cut which contained the longest observable dimension (long dimension) of the LG was used. The short dimension wa s defined as the maximum length of the perpendicular to the long dimension. None of these patients had any condition known to predispose to lacrimal gland enlargs ment. T1 and proton weighted axial images were used. Paired t-test and simple rej ression analyses were performed. Results: Of 40 MRIs, 23 were considered by both observers to be of sufficient quality to measure the dimensions of 45 LGs. In these 45 LGs no significant interobserver difference was noted in measurements of the Ion, ; dimension. The mean long dimension was 11.4+L6 mm, and the long dimension was positively correlated with age (p=0.033). A statistically significant interobserve difference was noted in the measurements of the short dimension (p=0.007); Consequently this parameter was not used. Conclusions: Based on our pilot study of patients 1-180 months old, a lacrimal gland measuring >13.0 mm in its long dimension on an axial head MRI should be considered a suspect for enlargement; However, Radiologists and Ophthalmologists should also consider patient age when determining LG enlargement on MRI- None.