Clinicopathological analysis of malignant eyelid tumor cases at Yamagata university hospital: statistical comparison of tumor incidence in Japan and in other countries.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical and histopathological features of malignant eyelid tumor cases treated in our clinic. We also compared the differences in the frequency of malignant eyelid tumor in various regions of Japan and worldwide.
METHODS: Retrospectively, we studied the records of the 38 cases of malignant eyelid tumor treated in Yamagata University Hospital over the last 17 years. The statistical comparison with various countries was based on reports of case studies in those countries.
RESULTS: Data from our clinic: Among the total of 38 cases, 15 cases (39.5%) were diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, 11 cases (28.9%) as sebaceous gland carcinoma, and 4 cases (10.5%) as squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, three cases were malignant melanoma, two adenocarcinoma, one Merkel cell carcinoma, one malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and one malignant lymphoma. The ages of patients ranged from 45 to 92 years (mean, 72.0 +/- 12.4 years). Most of the cases were treated by complete resection of the tumors and eyelid reconstruction. Radiation or cryotherapy were added when required. The prognosis of the cases with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was good, and that of the other tumors was relatively poor. During the same period, in Caucasians, basal cell carcinoma constituted about 80%-90% of the malignant eyelid tumors, whereas in Japan and Asian countries, basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma each constituted about 20%-40%.
CONCLUSIONS: A racial difference in the incidence of basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma can be considered in making a diagnosis.