Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid: 21-year experience in a Nordic country

Purpose To evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic challenges, management, and prognosis of sebaceous carcinoma (SC) of the eyelids and periocular region in a Nordic country. Methods Patients were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry and the Helsinki University Hospital databases during the 21-year period 1998-2018. Age, sex, location, clinical and histopathologic diagnosis, treatment and outcome were registered. Results Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) was diagnosed in 32 patients. The incidence was 0.6 per million. Median age at the time of histopathologic diagnosis was 74 years, and 72% of patients were women. Diagnostic delay was often long, median 12 months. The most common cause for delay was misdiagnosis (72%): a chalazion in 34% and a benign tumour in 22%. The most common location was the upper eyelid (53%) and tumour type a solitary nodule (94%). The SC was not correctly diagnosed in 12 (40%) of 30 preoperative biopsies. The treatment for 31 (97%) patients was complete surgical removal with reconstruction. Conjunctival intraepithelial growth was found in 50%. The leading postoperative problem was ocular irritation (30%). During a median follow-up of 58 months, two patients (6%) experienced a local recurrence and one patient died from metastatic SC. Conclusions The estimated incidence of SC in Finland was somewhat higher than in other Western countries. The diagnosis was often markedly delayed. Especially differentiation from chalazion continues to be essential. To improve outcomes, it is essential to inform the pathologist about the possibility of SC in eyelid biopsies and specimens and ideally submit them to an ophthalmic pathology service.