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Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:243-244 doi:10.1136/bjo.86.2.243
  • Letter

Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid: a rarity worth considering

  1. Alexander Gardetto1,
  2. Christian Rainer1,
  3. Christian Ensinger2,
  4. Ivo Baldissera3,
  5. Hildegunde Piza-Katzer4
  1. 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Innsbruck and Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Quality Control in Plastic Surgery, Austria
  2. 2Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria
  4. 4Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Innsbruck and Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Quality Control in Plastic Surgery, Austria
  1. Correspondence to: Alexander Gardetto, MD, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; alexander.gardetto{at}uibk.ac.at
  • Accepted 27 April 2001

The sebaceous carcinoma is a very rare malignant tumour primarily found in the area of the eyelid. Most of these carcinomas originate in the tarsal meibomian glands although they may in extremely rare cases originate in the glands of Zeis of the eyelashes or the sebaceous glands of the caruncle.1 The periorbital primaries are reported to behave aggressively with the tendency to metastasise early with a significant mortality in most series.2

In many cases correct diagnosis of a sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid is delayed not only as a result of the rarity of this tumour but also because of its ability to masquerade as a variety of other eye conditions such as chalazion or chronic blepharoconjunctivitis. A high index of suspicion is vital if these tumours are to be adequately treated.

We present a case of sebaceous carcinoma and discuss the clinical behaviour, the diagnosis, and the differential diagnosis difficulties as well as the therapy.

Case report

A 78 year old patient presented with a localised inflammation in the centre of the right upper eyelid. Under local antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks …

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