POTENTIAL OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF THE LACRIMAL GLAND EPITHELIAL TUMORS
Objective. Discussion of the X-ray data in patients with epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland.Material and methods. We examined CT scans of 20 patients with  lacrimal gland epithelial tumors (20 orbits). Pleomorphic adenoma  was diagnosed in 9 patients, pleomorphic adenocarcinoma was  diagnosed in 11 patients. The computed tomogtaphy was performed  according to the standard method with obtaining axial and frontal  slices. The slicethickness was 1.0 mm, sliceinterval – 1.0 mm.Results. The article presents data on the structure of lacrimal gland  epithelial tumors, considering their volume, dimension and density.  Based on the investigation results, the criteria for the differential diagnosis between pleomorphic adenoma and  adenocarcinoma have been established.Conclusion. Computed tomography is an essential diagnostic technique for a suspected lacrimal gland tumor.  Pleomorphic adenocarcinoma is characterized by a greater density  and more heterogeneous structure compared to pleomorphic  adenoma. Nearly 3/4 of patients with pleomorphic adenocarcinoma  present changes in their orbital walls. The pleomorphic adenoma  can’t be ruled out in patients with the thinning of the orbital wall.