Sebaceous carcinoma presenting as a unilateral papillary conjunctivitis.

Abstract

To describe a previously unreported presentation of sebaceous carcinoma, an aggressive tumor that often presents insidiously with minimal symptoms and nonspecific signs. We report a 71-year-old man who presented with unilateral ocular irritation and ipsilateral, idiopathic, papillary changes of the superior palpebral conjunctiva. The patient underwent incisional biopsy of the palpebral conjunctiva followed by full-thickness excision of the involved eyelid. Histopathologic examination established the diagnosis of sebaceous carcinoma. Unexplained asymmetric, papillary changes of the palpebral conjunctiva should arouse suspicion of sebaceous carcinoma.