Evaluation of Demographic Features of Eyelid Lesions

OBJECTIVES: This study was an evaluation of demographic and histopathologic features of eyelid lesions. METHODS: The medical records of 261 patients (296 eyelid lesions) who attended a single clinic between 1997 and 2011 were examined retrospectively. The incidence of benign and malignant lesions, the pathological classification, and age and sex data were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 204 benign lesions (68.9%) and 92 malignant neoplasms (31.1%) were found. Among these, the most frequently seen types of benign neoplasms were xanthelasma (28.4%), papilloma (14.7%), chalazion (8.8%), nevus (6.4%), moll cyst (5.9%), and capillary hemangioma (4.9%). The most frequently seen malignant neoplasms were basal cell carcinoma (72.8%), squamous cell carcinoma (13%), and sebaceous gland carcinoma (5.4%). The study group was made up of 149 (57%) female patients and 112 (43%) male patients. The majority of benign lesions were seen in women, whereas malignant neoplasms were observed more often in male patients. The mean age of patients with benign lesions and malignant neoplasms was 38.1±21.7 and 62.7±15.3 years, respectively. Benign lesions involved the upper eyelid more frequently than the lower, while malignant lesions were seen more frequently in the lower eyelid, with the exception of sebaceous gland carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The majority of eyelid lesions were benign and malignant neoplasms were seen more frequently in the older population. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common malignant eyelid tumor. The most common site of malignant tumor origin was the lower eyelid, with the exception of sebaceous gland carcinoma.