Langerhans' cell tumor of the eyelid

Light microscopic examination of a cutaneous nodule excised from the eyelid of a 35 year-old woman showed a monotonous proliferation of histiocytes with pagetoid infiltration of the epidermis. Following excision of this lesion, ipsilateral cervical lympadenopathy was noted. An infiltrate of cytologically similar cells was found. Electron microscopic examination showed features of Langerhans' cells including typical Birbeck granules in tumor cells from the lymph nodes. It is suggested that this localized neoplasm originated in the skin and metastasized to the regional lymph nodes.