Cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic to the eyelid

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is a significant skin cancer.
• Metastasis of CMM to ocular and orbital structures is uncommon.
• Eyelid metastasis from CMM is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

• A patient with a history of treated melanoma presented with a new eyelid lesion.
• This eyelid lesion was the initial indicator of tumor recurrence.
• The patient had no prior history of ocular or orbital melanoma metastasis.

Findings:

• The eyelid lesion was diagnosed as metastatic malignant melanoma.
• This represented the first sign of recurrence 3 years after initial treatment for a back melanoma.
• The patient's prognosis was poor, with death occurring 6 weeks post-diagnosis.

Implications:

• New eyelid lesions in patients with known malignancy should raise suspicion for metastasis.
• Metastatic melanoma to the eyelid, though rare, can be an early sign of systemic recurrence.
• Timely diagnosis and management are critical for patients with suspected melanoma metastasis.