SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE EYELID

A total of 24 patients (12 men and 12 women) with squamous cell carcin oma of the eyelid were identified from pathology records at Wills Eye Hospital from 1978 through 1987. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 24 of 648 (3.7%) malignant eyelid lesions submitted during the 10-yea r study period. The median age of patients at the time of diagnosis wa s 72 years (range, 55 to 96 years). Initial therapy of all tumors invo lved surgical excision. Four patients developed clinical recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in a median of 7.5 months after surgery. Ther e were no tumor recurrences when frozen section techniques were applie d during the initial surgical excision. The data suggest that the risk of persistence or recurrence of tumor was increased for patients who delayed seeking medical care after the lesion was first noticed and wh en frozen section control was not used during surgery. None of the pat ients were known to have developed metastases, and there were no tumor -related deaths.