Peripunctal Mass Lesions: Clinicopathological Analysis and Surgical Outcomes-A Multicentric Series

To report the epidemiology, histopathological spectrum, and surgical outcomes of peripunctal mass lesions.

Multicentric retrospective case series involving 6 centers in India. All cases of peripunctal masses with histopathological diagnoses and minimum follow up of 3 months were included. Demographic data, clinical photographs, objective assessments of clinical improvement were assessed before and after treatment.

A total of 50 patients were included. The mean age was 46.4 years (range: 12-76 years). The mean duration of complaints was 27.4 months (range: 1-120 months) and mean follow-up period after surgery was 15.8 months (range: 3-120 months). The most common presenting complaints were a mass lesion/cosmetic concern (82%), followed by epiphora (48%) and foreign body sensation (16%). The most common lesion was melanocytic nevus (19/50; 38%), followed by squamous papilloma (8/50; 16%), hidrocystoma (7/50; 14%), and epidermoid cyst (7/50; 14%). Three cases of malignant tumors were diagnosed: 2 cases of sebaceous gland carcinoma and 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma. In all, 21 of 50 (42%) cases underwent excision with the placement of a Mini-Monoka stent, whereas the remaining 29 cases underwent only excision. At final follow up, a healed punctal opening was visible in 46 of 50 (92%) of the cases; 2 (4%) cases had a slit-like punctum and in 1 case (2%), a stenosed punctum was visible. However, only 1 case (2%) reported epiphora at follow up.

Peripunctal masses are largely benign and present most commonly on the lower eyelid. Melanocytic nevus is the most common peripunctal mass lesion. In the series, stent placement did not play a significant role in the functional outcome.