Clinicopathological report: Mucinous carcinoma of the eyelid

Background: Mucinous carcinoma of the skin is a rare tumour that may involv e the peri-ocular region. Methods/Results: A case report is presented of a 73-year-old woman with a r ight upper lid tumour initially diagnosed as a basal cell carcinoma. Excisi onal biopsy of the residual tumour revealed mucinous carcinoma Re-examinati on of the original pathology proved to be mucinous carcinoma, originating i n the eyelid skin. Further treatment involved wide local resection and reco nstruction Systemic investigations were undertaken to exclude the possibili ty of metastatic mucinous carcinoma. Conclusion: This case is presented to alert ophthalmologists to the occurre nce of this rare tumour in the periocular region, to highlight the importan ce of surgical excision with wide margins and the need for systemic investi gation to exclude a primary malignancy in other sites, in particular the ga strointestinal system and breast.