Rare Lacrimal Gland Solitary Fibrous Tumour Features Floret-Type Giant Cells

Physicians have reported a rare case of a solitary fibrous tumour arising in the lacrimal gland of a 52-year-old Egyptian man, marked by the presence of floret-type multinucleated giant cells and diffuse nuclear STAT6 expression. The patient, a non-smoker, presented with a five-month history of an enlarging left lacrimal swelling, accompanied by proptosis and mildly reduced visual acuity in the left eye measured at 6/9. Solitary fibrous tumours are rare fibroblastic neoplasms, and their involvement of the lacrimal gland represents an uncommon clinical occurrence.

Diagnostic evaluation using non-contrast orbital computed tomography revealed a well-defined lesion measuring 9 by 12 millimetres without evidence of bone erosion or local tissue invasion. Clinicians proceeded with complete surgical excision of the mass. Following the procedure, histopathological examination identified a patternless spindle-cell tumour exhibiting characteristic staghorn vasculature, low mitotic activity, and distinctive floret-type multinucleated giant cells, while showing no signs of necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, or perineural invasion.

Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the tumour cells expressed CD34, CD99, BCL2, and diffuse nuclear STAT6, supporting the formal diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumour with negative surgical margins. At a three-month follow-up evaluation, the patient demonstrated full recovery of visual function with no reported diplopia. The report documents a small, completely excised, low-risk example of lacrimal gland solitary fibrous tumour, noting that recognizing this distinct floret-type morphology alongside STAT6 staining is essential because it can overlap with other giant-cell-rich spindle-cell lesions, with complete excision and risk-adapted surveillance remaining key management principles.

Subject of Research: Lacrimal gland solitary fibrous tumour with floret-type giant cells

Article Title: STAT6-positive solitary fibrous tumour of the lacrimal gland with floret-type giant cells: a rare case report

Article References: Sonbol, A., Tarek, R., Elzaafarany, M., Abdelaziz, R., Elbeah, Z., Khader, R., Bdair, M., Nazzal, L., & Elhakim, E. (2026). STAT6-positive solitary fibrous tumour of the lacrimal gland with floret-type giant cells: a rare case report. BMC Ophthalmology, 26(1), Article 731. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-026-05525-x

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12886-026-05525-x

Keywords: solitary fibrous tumour, lacrimal gland, STAT6, floret-type giant cells, orbital neoplasm, ophthalmic pathology, CD34, surgical excision, STAT6-positive, solitary, fibrous, tumour