Multidisciplinary management of an anaplastic sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid in a 40-year-old woman

Abstract

Case report

A 40-year-old woman was referred to our department due to an apparent indolent anterior blepharitis with an indurated node in her right upper eyelid, which had persisted for months. It was believed to be a chalazion associated with an ipsilateral swollen pre-aurical lymph node, which had not responded to conventional treatment. The extemporaneous biopsy was reported as sebaceous carcinoma. Complete exeresis was performed on that eyelid and it was reconstructed with a palate mucosa graft and a glabelar flap. A radical neck dissection was performed later, in order to remove the lymph nodes that appeared necrotic in several lymphatic areas. A biopsy was also performed on the lower eyelid, which was reported as positive for carcinomatous infiltration, and therefore it was treated with Curie-therapy.

Discussion

The precocity in diagnosing sebaceous carcinomas of the eyelids is the main prognostic factor. The reconstruction in cases with need of complete eyelid exeresis is feasible by means of a palate mucosa graft. In our case, both the anaplastic character and the high aggressiveness of the neoplasm were a therapeutic challenge.

Resumen

Caso clínico

Mujer de 40 años remitida a nuestro servicio por persistencia durante meses de un cuadro de blefaritis anterior de aspecto indolente con aparición de un nódulo indurado en el párpado superior derecho filiado como chalazion refractario al tratamiento convencional, asociado a adenopatía preauricular ipsilateral. La biopsia extemporánea se informó como carcinoma sebáceo. Procedimos a la exéresis completa de dicho párpado y a su reconstrucción con injerto de mucosa palatina y colgajo glabelar. Posteriormente se practicó un vaciamiento cervical radical por la presencia de adenopatías de aspecto necrótico en diversos territorios linfáticos. Se biopsió el párpado inferior, que resultó positivo para infiltración carcinomatosa, que se trató mediante braquiterapia.

Discusión

La precocidad en el diagnóstico de los carcinomas sebáceos palpebrales es el principal factor pronóstico. La reconstrucción en casos de necesidad de exéresis completa del párpado es factible mediante un injerto de mucosa de paladar. En nuestro caso, el carácter anaplásico y la alta agresividad de la neoplasia han supuesto un reto terapéutico.