Normative dimensions of the lacrimal gland
Reviewed by Hetvi Bhatt

This article looks at the normative dimensions of the lacrimal gland in the axial and coronal plane on fat-suppressed T1 weighted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous data on this subject has come from computed tomography (CT). MRI is known to have superior resolution of soft tissue in comparison, and it is because of this that the authors have pursued the topic. They report lacrimal gland measurements in males and females and have found no difference according to gender. The authors do however report an age-related reduction in axial length measurements with mean values of 15.7mm (right) and 15.4mm (left) between ages 20-39, and 13.2mm (right) and 13.3mm (left) in ages 80-99. The authors conclude that a measurement greater than two standard deviations from the mean can be used to define lacrimal gland enlargement. Although this is a useful starting point, with the increasing focus on individualised health care and translating results to the wider population, it would be prudent to discuss the difference in lacrimal gland measurements according to ethnicity as well.

Normative lacrimal gland dimensions by magnetic resonance imaging in an Australian cohort.
Rana K, Juniat V, Patel S, Selva D.
ORBIT
2023;42(2):157-60.