Eyelid trichoblastoma – A case series

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the clinicopathological features of a rare eyelid tumor, trichoblastoma (TBL). Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing excision biopsies of eyelid masses at a tertiary eye care center in South India, between January 2017 and December 2018. Patient demographics, clinical and differentiating histopathological features, and recurrence of TBL were studied. Results: Amongst all eyelid masses, 15 were histopathologically diagnosed with TBL. The average age at presentation was 64 years as female preponderance and average duration of mass being 786 days. Change in color was noted in three patients, change in size in 14 cases and history of bleeding from the mass in three. Lower lid was the most common site involved (eight patients). The average dimension of the lesions was 158.67 mm2. One patient had lid margin involvement with loss of lashes noted in three cases and conjunctival involvement in three patients. Morphologically, eight lesions were nodular while five were noduloulcerative. Pigmented TBL was noted in eight patients, TBL with atypia in three patients. TBL, malignant TBL, rippled variant and TBL with trichofolliculoma were noted in one patient each. Clinical and histopathological diagnoses correlated in four patients. No recurrence was noted with the maximum follow-up period being 23 months. Conclusion and Relevance: A differential diagnosis of TBL should be kept in mind while managing eyelid tumors because benign lesions can mimic commonly diagnosed malignancies and vice versa.