Epidemiological Profile and Clinical Stage at Presentation of Eyelid Malignancies in a Multi-Ethnic Country

Abstract

Eyelid malignancies are frequently seen in clinical practice. There is a lack of studies that have assessed the features of these lesions in mixed population countries. The epidemiologic profile, clinical stage at presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with eyelid malignancies were assessed, in order to better understand the features of these lesions in a multi-ethnic country. The medical records of patients who underwent eyelid tumor excision in a tertiary service in Brazil, from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. It was recorded for each patient: age, gender, time of onset, location, diagnosis, management, and follow-up. The medical records of 298 patients who presented with eyelid tumors were evaluated and 67 (22.4%) were malignant. The mean age of patients with malignancies was 52.93 years and 50% were male. Basal cell carcinoma was the most prevalent (61.2%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (29.9%) and sebaceous gland carcinoma (3%). The average time it took from appearance to surgical treatment was 3 years; the lower eyelid was the most affected for both basal cell carcinoma and SCC; 70% of SCCs were locally invasive at presentation and metastasis occurred in 15%. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common eyelid malignancy observed, however, its frequency was lower when compared to other western countries. The advanced stage at presentation may reflect the lack of education of the population to seek early care, and the lack of specialized tertiary centers in remote areas, resulting in delayed diagnosis.