Malignant eyelid tumors in Hong Kong 1997-2009

To determine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients with malignant eyelid tumors in Hong Kong.

A computerized retrieval system was used to identify all patients with histologically confirmed malignant eyelid tumors residing in Western Kowloon and the Southern New Territories, Hong Kong, during the 13-year period from 1997 to 2009. The patients' medical records were reviewed for clinical and demographic data.

A total of 36 patients were identified; all were Chinese. The mean age at diagnosis was 73.4 ± 11.5 years. Women were more commonly affected. Each patient had 1 tumor. Tumors developed more commonly on the lower eyelid (n = 19; 52.8%) than on the upper eyelid (n = 11; 30.6%). The right eye was more often involved (n = 20; 55.6%). With regard to the type of tumor, 27 were basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (75%), 4 sebaceous gland carcinoma (11.1%), 2 squamous cell carcinoma (5.6%), 1 mucinous eccrine carcinoma (2.8%), 1 verrucous carcinoma (2.8%), and 1 metastatic carcinoma (2.8%). Most were treated by frozen section-guided excision and eyelid reconstruction. Recurrence occurred in 1 case only. Incidence was low until approximately 45 years of age, after which it rose sharply. The incidence continued to increase until above the age of 85 years. There was an overall increase in incidence from 0.6 per million in 1997 to 2.3 per million in 2009.

Increasing incidence of malignant eyelid tumors was noticed in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2009, with BCC dominating the incidence trend. Recurrence after complete surgical excision was uncommon.