The clinical features and surgical results of malignant eyelid tumors.

BACKGROUND: To determine the clinical characteristics and surgical results of patients with malignant eyelid tumors. METHODS: A retrospective study was used to review patients who had malignant eyelid tumors and underwent surgery at our hospital from 1984 to 1999. The therapies for these tumors were surgical excision with immediate peripheral tissue examination of frozen section and Mohs' micrographic surgery. RESULTS: We reviewed 77 patients with malignant eyelid tumors. Their ages ranged from 17 to 98 years with mean age of 63.4 years. The three most common tumors, in order of frequency, were basal cell carcinoma (45 cases, 58.4%), sebaceous adenocarcinoma (14 cases, 18.2%), and squamous cell carcinoma (13 cases, 16.9%). Tumor developed most commonly on the lower eyelid. Six (7.8%) patients had local recurrence after an average period of 3 years and 9 months. Meanwhile, regional metastases were found in 7 patients (9.1%) and distant metastases were found in 4 patients (5.2%). CONCLUSION: In our study, wide excision with frozen section control for malignant eyelid tumor was a relatively useful method. Cosmetically and functionally acceptable results can be achieved after eyelid reconstructive surgery.