Squamous Cell Carcinoma Simulating Chalazion in the Upper Eyelid

ABSTRACT

Carcinoma of the lids has the highest incidence of any malignant ocular tumor. It is most frequent in men over 50 years of age. The majority of lid carcinoma are of the basal cell type, the remaining consist of squamous cell carcinomas and meibomian gland carcinomas. Basal cell carcinoma is much more common in the lower lid; squamous cell carcinoma in the upper lid. Squamous cell carcinoma grows slowly and painlessly, and may be present for months before it is noted. It may occlude meibomian ducts and produce an inflammatory element which may confuses the clinical picture. A 57 years old man with bronchogenic carcinoma was referred for eye consultation and found to have a small painless nodule on right upper lid that was thought to be chalazion. Palpation of preauricular, submaxillary or cervical node was negative. This small nodule was excised radically for microscopic examination to rule out a probable metastatic lesion from bronchogenic carcinma. Histopathologically, this tumor was reported not to be a secondary but to be a primary squamous cell carcinoma on right upper lid.