Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia occurring in bilateral eyelids

BACKGROUND: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is an uncommon benign lesion, primarily occurring in the head and neck. ALHE arising from the ocular adnexa is rare, and the bilateral presentation is especially rare in the eyelids. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old Japanese man presented with tearing. Multiple nodules, approximately 5 mm in size, were observed in bilateral upper and lower eyelids. Surgical excisions of the both eyelids masses were performed. Histopathological examination of the excised masses demonstrated proliferated blood vessels lined by plump endothelial cells together with a lymphoid and eosinopilic infiltrate, compatible with a diagnosis of ALHE. Flow cytometry studies showed that the mass consisted of mostly CD3-positive cells. During two-year follow-up, no recurrence of the mass was observed and the patient had no subjective symptom of tearing CONCLUSION: ALHE may occur in the bilateral eyelids. The cause of ALHE remains uncertain, but our results of flow cytemetry suggest that T cells are related to the pathogenesis of this disease.