Cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid. Clinicopathologic features.

Abstract

The authors reviewed the clinical and histopathologic features of 32 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma of the eyelid. The lower eyelid was more frequently the site of origin than the upper eyelid (21 patients, 66% of cases). A clinical diagnosis of melanoma was made in only 2 of 13 patients (15%) for whom the clinical diagnosis was listed. Clinical findings of pigmentation, ulceration/hemorrhage, or growth were documented in 25 (78%) patients. The histopathologic classification of the melanomas included nodular (19 patients, 59%), superficial spreading (7 patients, 22%), and lentigo maligna (6 patients, 19%). Associated histopathologic findings included solar elastosis (13 patients, 41%), nevus (12 patients, 38%), and basal cell carcinoma (4 patients, 13%). One of eighteen patients with follow-up data available died of metastatic melanoma.