BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuDacryoadenitisDacryoadenitis is inflammation of the tear-producing gland (lacrimal gland). Causes Acute dacryoadenitis is most commonly due to viral or bacterial infection. Common causes include mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, staphylococcus, and gonococcus.MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Epstein-Barr virusMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic dacryoadenitis is most often due to noninfectious inflammatory disorders. Examples include sarcoidosis, thyroid eye disease, and orbital pseudotumor.SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Orbital pseudotumorOrbital pseudotumor is the swelling of tissue behind the eye in an area called the orbit. The orbit is the hollow space in the skull where the eye s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms may include:Swelling of the outer portion of the upper eyelid, with possible redness and tenderness Pain in the area of swelling Excess tearing or discharge Swelling of lymph nodes in front of the ear Exams and Tests Dacryoadenitis can be diagnosed by an exam of the eyes and lids. Special tests, such as a CT scan may be needed to look for the cause. Sometimes a biopsy will be needed to make sure that a tumor of the lacrimal gland is not present.CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit is an imaging method. It uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the eye sockets (orbits), eyes and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tumor of the lacrimal glandA lacrimal gland tumor is a tumor in one of the glands that produces tears. The lacrimal gland is located under the outer part of each eyebrow. Lac...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment If the cause of dacryoadenitis is a viral condition such as mumps, rest and warm compresses may be enough. In other cases, the treatment depends on the disease that caused the condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people will fully recover from dacryoadenitis. For more serious causes, such as sarcoidosis, the outlook depends on the disease that caused this condition. Possible Complications Swelling may be severe enough to put pressure on the eye and distort vision. Some people who were first thought to have dacryoadenitis may turn out to have cancer of the lacrimal gland. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if swelling or pain increase despite treatment. Prevention Mumps can be prevented by getting vaccinated. You can avoid getting infected with gonococcus, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, by using safe sex practices. Most other causes cannot be prevented.Open ReferencesReferencesDurand ML. Periocular infections. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 116.Martínez Díaz M, Copete Piqueras S, Blanco Marchite C, Vahdani K. Acute dacryoadenitis in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Orbit. 2022;41(3):374-377. PMID: 33402004 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33402004/.McNab AA. Orbital infection and inflammation. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 12.14.AllVideoImagesTogLacrimal gland anatomy - illustration The lacrimal gland is located within the orbit above the lateral end of the eye. It continually releases fluid which cleanses and protects the eye's surface as it lubricates and moistens it. These lacrimal secretions are commonly known as tears.Lacrimal gland anatomyillustrationLacrimal gland anatomy - illustration The lacrimal gland is located within the orbit above the lateral end of the eye. It continually releases fluid which cleanses and protects the eye's surface as it lubricates and moistens it. These lacrimal secretions are commonly known as tears.Lacrimal gland anatomyillustrationRelated Information Mumps(Condition)Mononucleosis(Condition)Sarcoidosis(Condition)Orbital pseudotumor(Condition) Review Date: 8/22/2022 Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. 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DacryoadenitisDacryoadenitis is inflammation of the tear-producing gland (lacrimal gland). Causes Acute dacryoadenitis is most commonly due to viral or bacterial infection. Common causes include mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, staphylococcus, and gonococcus.MumpsMumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Epstein-Barr virusMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic dacryoadenitis is most often due to noninfectious inflammatory disorders. Examples include sarcoidosis, thyroid eye disease, and orbital pseudotumor.SarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Orbital pseudotumorOrbital pseudotumor is the swelling of tissue behind the eye in an area called the orbit. The orbit is the hollow space in the skull where the eye s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms may include:Swelling of the outer portion of the upper eyelid, with possible redness and tenderness Pain in the area of swelling Excess tearing or discharge Swelling of lymph nodes in front of the ear Exams and Tests Dacryoadenitis can be diagnosed by an exam of the eyes and lids. Special tests, such as a CT scan may be needed to look for the cause. Sometimes a biopsy will be needed to make sure that a tumor of the lacrimal gland is not present.CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit is an imaging method. It uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the eye sockets (orbits), eyes and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tumor of the lacrimal glandA lacrimal gland tumor is a tumor in one of the glands that produces tears. The lacrimal gland is located under the outer part of each eyebrow. Lac...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment If the cause of dacryoadenitis is a viral condition such as mumps, rest and warm compresses may be enough. In other cases, the treatment depends on the disease that caused the condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people will fully recover from dacryoadenitis. For more serious causes, such as sarcoidosis, the outlook depends on the disease that caused this condition. Possible Complications Swelling may be severe enough to put pressure on the eye and distort vision. Some people who were first thought to have dacryoadenitis may turn out to have cancer of the lacrimal gland. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if swelling or pain increase despite treatment. Prevention Mumps can be prevented by getting vaccinated. You can avoid getting infected with gonococcus, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, by using safe sex practices. Most other causes cannot be prevented.Open ReferencesReferencesDurand ML. Periocular infections. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 116.Martínez Díaz M, Copete Piqueras S, Blanco Marchite C, Vahdani K. Acute dacryoadenitis in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Orbit. 2022;41(3):374-377. PMID: 33402004 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33402004/.McNab AA. Orbital infection and inflammation. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 12.14.