[Oncological principles of surgery in the periorbital region]

The aim of this study is to describe the most common malignant periorbital tumours and principles of their surgical treatment. The most common malignant tumours of the eyelids are: basocellular carcinoma, squamocellular carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The primary treatment of periorbital tumours is surgery, other methods are cryotherapy or radiotherapy. Malignant tumours of the eyelids are fairly rare. Diagnosis in some of the cases is difficult, since the first signs of the tumours are small changes on the eyelid margin or eyelid skin. Focal loss of the eyelashes could be the first sign of a malignant tumour. General oncological principles are valid also in the surgery of periorbital region. Eyelids have special anatomical structure and their main role is protection of the eyeball. Therefore, early diagnosis and total tumour removal--regardless of the anatomical borders--as well as immediate reconstruction are important in the treatment of eyelid tumours.