Rapidly enlarging eyelid lesion

An 82 year woman was referred with a right upper eyelid mass present for at least three months⇓. This was initially diagnosed by her GP as an infected eyelid cyst and treated with antibiotic ointment. The patient did not notice the rapid growth until a relative pointed it out to her and alerted the GP who made an urgent referral. On examination a large ulcerated mass was occupying most of the right upper lid causing eyelash loss and eyelid tissue destruction. Histology confirmed a locally invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SCC is a malignant epidermal tumour; although 40 times less common than eyelid basal cell carcinoma it is much more locally aggressive and can rapidly spread causing destruction of surrounding structures and also carries increased risk of nodal metastasis.

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