Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma of the Eye Lid: An Aggressive Tumor of the Periocular Tissues

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sebaceous gland carcinomas affect elderly patients, the median age at diagnosis being over 60 years. It has to be treated with radical surgical excision for cure. However, it is frequently misdiagnosed both clinically and pathologically.OBJECTIVE: To present a case located on the right lower eye lid as a 2 cm nodule being present for a year in a 55 year old woman that was diagnosed as a benign mass clinically.METHODS: Pathological assessment of a totally excised 2 cm nodular mass microscopically yielded a diagnosis of sebaceous gland carcinoma showing comedo-like necrosis and epithelial membrane antigen positivity.CONCLUSION: Sebaceous gland carcinomas must be both clinically and pathologically on the list of differential diagnosis for persisting lesions of periocular tissue lesions since it needs radical surgical excision.

Keywords: Sebaceous gland carcinoma, eye lid, histopathology