Spontaneous regression of a large-cell lymphoma in the conjunctiva and orbit.

Spontaneous and complete regression of malignant neoplasms is extremely unusual. To our knowledge, this case report is the first description of spontaneous regression of an extranodal malignant lymphoma occurring in the conjunctiva and orbit. A 40-year-old woman noticed a pink conjunctival mass at the medial aspect of her left eye that had been present for 3 weeks. She presented on May 5, 2003. Ophthalmologic examination showed a salmon-colored mass along the lateral side of the caruncle. CT revealed a mass in the medial orbit. Surgical biopsy exhibited a malignant lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell type. After biopsy, the tumor spontaneously decreased in size and completely disappeared in 5 weeks. At 6 months' follow-up, the tumor had not recurred.

Eyelid tumors in southern Taiwan: a 5-year survey from a medical university.

This retrospective case analysis investigated the epidemiology of eyelid tumors in a subtropical area. The study assessed the proportion of all eyelid tumors that were malignancies, the accuracy of diagnosis, and surgical results. We retrospectively collected all cases of eyelid tumors in the Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, between January 1994 and December 1998. Among the 144 cases collected, about half of the tumors were located in the upper eyelids and the other half in the lower eyelids. Nearly 50% of cases underwent tumor resection with eyelid reconstruction. When followed up to April 1999, 97% of patients were satisfied with the surgical results. There were 18 cases (12.5%) of malignant tumors, including 14 basal cell carcinomas, three sebaceous carcinomas, and one squamous cell carcinoma. Before surgery, two malignancies were presumed to be benign tumors while another two were thought to be different malignant tumors. The benign tumors included 38 nevi, 15 squamous papillomas, 13 cysts, 11 verrucae, 10 seborrheic keratoses, four hemangiomas, and others. All tumors that were thought to be malignancies were treated using complete resection with margin monitoring by frozen section. At the end of follow-up, no recurrence was noted. More than 10% of cases of eyelid tumors in this subtropical teaching hospital were malignant. All surgeons should be alert to this phenomenon when they operate on an eyelid tumor. The best policy is to send all specimens for pathologic examination.