Verrucous carcinoma: a rare tumor of the eyelid

A 72-year-old gentleman presented with a left upper eyelid mass existing for several years but progressively increased in size over 2 weeks. Clinically the 1.5 × 1-cm firm, pigmented and sessile mass resembles a large wart. Excisional biopsy of the mass reveals a diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma. Verrucous carcinoma rarely occurs in the eyelid, and this is the first reported case of its occurrence in an Asian patient. As its appearance simulates that of a wart, it may be mistaken as the latter. Deep excisional biopsy is required in differentiating the two. Although being rare, ophthalmologists have to be aware of the diagnosis to avoid missing this potentially curable malignant lesion in patients presenting with eyelid tumors.