Sebaceous carcinoma arising from the eyelid and from extra-ocular sites

Sebaceous carcinoma is slow growing, locally aggressive and capable of metastatic spread. The natural history of sebaceous carcinoma arising from the eyelid is well known, but less than 100 cases arising from other cutaneous sites have been reported. Five cases of sebaceous carcinoma, 3 of which originated from the eyelid and 2 from extraocular sites are here reported. The patients (3 men and 2 women; median age, 69 years) were treated at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan between 1974 and 1984. Pathologic features, complete follow-up and natural history are reported.