Cancers of eyelid: Report of two cases

Abstract

There are four main types of eyelid cancer. Basal Cell Carcinoma that by far the most common (85% of cases). This is a tumour of older person, after 50 years. Its occurrence in a child must search for Basal Cell Hamartoma. Squamous Cell Carcinoma represents about 5% of cases. It can occur de novo or more frequently on precancerous lesions. Acquired immunosuppression, xeroderma pigmentosum and albinism predispose to the occurrence of this cancer. The Sebaceous Carcinoma represents a little less than 5% of cases. The third type may arise in the meibomian, Zeis or sebaceous glands. Its diagnosis is often delayed because of its seemingly benign clinical appearance. Malignant Melanoma is a rare tumour of the eyelids, less than 1% of cases. From two observations, one Basal Cell Carcinoma and one Squamous Cell carcinoma in HIV/AIDS context, we did a short review of the literature on eyelid cancer pathology.