Is chronic or acute dacryoadenitis more common?

Is chronic or acute dacryoadenitis more common?

• A. Chronic
• B. Acute
• C. Both equally
• D. Neither

Answer: (A)

Chronic inflammatory processes are the more common cause of dacryoadenitis. The lacrimal gland can become inflamed from long-standing autoimmune or inflammatory diseases—such as sarcoidosis, Sjögren syndrome, or IgG4-related disease—and from chronic infectious processes. These situations tend to produce a persistent, often painless or minimally tender swelling of the lacrimal gland that lasts weeks to months, making chronic dacryoadenitis a more frequently encountered presentation in many clinical settings. In contrast, acute dacryoadenitis is usually due to an infectious attack (viral or bacterial) and presents with a rapid onset of gland swelling, tenderness, and sometimes fever, but these acute cases are typically fewer in number compared to chronic inflammatory cases.

Chronic inflammatory processes are the more common cause of dacryoadenitis. The lacrimal gland can become inflamed from long-standing autoimmune or inflammatory diseases—such as sarcoidosis, Sjögren syndrome, or IgG4-related disease—and from chronic infectious processes. These situations tend to produce a persistent, often painless or minimally tender swelling of the lacrimal gland that lasts weeks to months, making chronic dacryoadenitis a more frequently encountered presentation in many clinical settings. In contrast, acute dacryoadenitis is usually due to an infectious attack (viral or bacterial) and presents with a rapid onset of gland swelling, tenderness, and sometimes fever, but these acute cases are typically fewer in number compared to chronic inflammatory cases.