A rare case of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma successfully treated with carbon ion radiotherapy

Primary malignant tumors of the lacrimal gland are very rare. The standard treatment typically involves wide surgical excision, which may include orbital bone resection and enucleation of the eyeball, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Recent advancements in hadron therapy, particularly carbon-ion radiotherapy, enable highly precise dose delivery to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, which could reduce toxicity. We report the case of a 70-year-old man diagnosed with asymptomatic primary ductal adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland. After a conservative microsurgical excision, residual disease remained, prompting the patient to undergo carbon-ion radiotherapy, which resulted in complete resolution of the tumor with minimal toxicity.