Epidemiology of neoplastic eyelid lesions in tertiary care hospital

Lesions from cutaneous portion of eyelid account for the considerable number of ocular specimens sent to the histopathology laboratory for evaluation. Wide spectrum of lesions ranging from non-neoplastic to neoplastic lesions can arise from different tissues of eyelid.

The aim of our study was to categorise the Neoplastic lesions, evaluate the prevalence of tumors and to compare with epidemiological data.

Retrospective analysis of 774 consecutive cases of Eyelid tumors over a period of 5 years was carried out in tertiary health care system through histopathological confirmation.

A total of 774 eyelid tumors consisted of 718 Benign lesions (92.76%) and 56 Malignant lesions (7.24%). Benign tumors were common in the fifth decade with female predominance affecting upper eyelid. Maximum number of Benign tumors were 318(44.28%) cases of Cystic lesions followed by 135(18.8%) Melanocytic lesions and 126(17.54%) cases of Epithelial proliferations. Malignant tumors were predominant in seventh decade with female preponderance and preference for lower eyelid. Sebaceous gland carcinoma 24(42.85%) was the commonest malignant tumor followed by 18(32.14%) Basal cell carcinoma, 5(8. 92%) Squamous cell carcinomas and 4(7.14%) cases of Malignant melanomas. An interesting case of Squamous cell carcinoma arising from Pilomatricoma was also seen. Rare tumors noted were 3 cases of Keratoacanthoma and one each case of Merkel cell carcinoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Benign tumors comprise majority of eyelid tumors. A high index of suspicion for malignant lesion will enable the patients for early diagnosis and management with the better prognosis of these tumors.