[Primary mucinous carcinoma of the eyelid. Case report]

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma, a tumor of the sweat glands, is a rare tumor localized to the eyelid in 40% of cases. We report a case of a primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma of the upper eyelid in a 53-year-old Caucasian male who appeared to have a chalazion. Histology showed rows and lobules of epithelial cells with discretely anisonucleotic nuclei and few mitotic figures scattered throughout the tumor cells, surrounded by a mucoid substance. Immunohistochemical analysis was cytokeratin 7 positive and cytokeratin 20 negative, and imaging and endoscopic screening were negative for metastasis, favoring the diagnosis of primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma. Despite a high recurrence rate of about 35%, this type of tumor displays an indolent course, and metastatic spread is very rare.