Oncocytoma

Synonyms

Nodular oncocytosis; Oncocyte; Oxyphile cell adenoma; Oxyphilic cystadenoma

Definition

Oncocytomas are benign proliferations of cells that arise from the epithelium of glandular tissue and are chiefly located in the head and neck region (Biggs and Font 1977; Eglen 1982; Morgan et al. 1998; Mete and Asa 2010; Say et al. 2012). While these adenomas have been reported to occur in the salivary gland, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, kidney, breast, and gastrointestinal tract (Biggs and Font 1977; Eglen 1982; Morgan et al. 1998; Mete and Asa 2010; Say et al. 2012), this article will focus on oncocytomas arising in the ocular adnexa. The majority of ocular oncocytic lesions are located in the caruncle, but they have also been reported to arise in the conjunctiva, eyelid, lacrimal sac, lacrimal gland, and plica semilunaris (Biggs and Font 1977; Eglen 1982; Say et al. 2012). Malignant oncocytic adenocarcinomas have been reported in the literature, but they are exceedingly uncommon...