Adenoid cystic carcinoma arising from the lower eyelid.

BACKGROUND

Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma is one of the rarest eyelid tumors.

CASE: A 39-year-old man presented with a small subcutaneous induration in his left lower eyelid close to the lower lacrimal punctum.

OBSERVATIONS: Under a clinical diagnosis of chalazion, the eyelid induration was extracted surgically via the palpebral conjunctiva. Histopathological examination of the extracted tumor revealed proliferation of basaloid cells with a prominent cribriform pattern containing Alcian blue-positive and periodic acid Schiff-positive material, leading to a diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. The patient subsequently underwent extended radical excision including the lacrimal sac. No recurrence was observed during 20 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenoid cystic carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of eyelid tumors simulating chalazion. Adenoid cystic carcinoma in the eyelid may have a more favorable prognosis than that in the lacrimal gland.