AIM: To analyze the clinical features and histopathological types of recurrent lacrimal gland tumors.

METHODS: Retrospective study was performed to analyze the clinical manifestation, relapse, histopathological classification and prognosis by the clinical and pathological data of 25 relapsed patients who confirmed by pathological examination in our department from Jan.2004 to Feb.2014.

RESULTS: A total of 21 cases were the first time in 25 patients with recurrence, 1 case was 3 times of relapse, 3 cases of recurrence of 2 times. The last surgery last time to recurrence interval ranged from 1 month to 28 years(mean 1 year). The patients aged from 17.5 to 70 years(mean 47.9 years). The pathological examination showed that: 4 cases were Pleomorphic adenoma, including 2 cases of malignant transformation,10 cases were adenoid cystic carcinoma, 3 cases were epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, 3 cases were malignant pleomorphic adenoma and 1 case was adenocarcinoma, 1 case was mesenchymal tissue tumor, 1 case was mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

CONCLUSION: There are many different kinds of recurrent tumor in the lacrimal gland, with adenoid cystic carcinoma most, the second is pleomorphic adenoma. Relapse rates are higher in the malignant tumor. Pleomorphic adenomas first complete resection surgery is very important to the prevention of postoperative recurrence and canceration. Early and longer-term follow-up is also important to find recurrent tumor.