UNILATERAL SWELLING OF THE EYELID IN THE PRESENCE OF NEVUS-FLAMMEUS ON THE FACE - PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF UNILATERAL EYELID SWELLING

A 32-year-old white woman presented with persistent swelling of the ri ght upper eyelid for diagnosis and therapy. History and physical exami nation revealed a faint nevus flammeus on the right side of her face a nd neck and bilateral blepharochalasis, both of which can produce unil ateral periorbital swelling. A biopsy taken for histology was diagnost ic in this case, since it showed lymphoedema secondary to lymphangiect asias associated with the patient's port-wine stain. Many other possib le causes of unilateral lid swelling have to be considered and exclude d before a definite diagnosis can be established. The differential dia gnosis is discussed.