Massive orbital invasion by small malignant lesions.

In diagnosing and treating small malignant lesions of the eyelids, physicians should be alert for possible extension of the cancer into the orbit, endangering not only the patient's sight but his life as well. Important signs and symptoms include bone thickening, disturbances of ocular motility, intermittent epiphora, and positive results of radiologic studies. From histopathologic study of the resected carcinomatous tissues, it is apparent that the creeping, cicatrizing, ulcerated, and invasive patterns of basal cell carcinoma predominate in this group of eyelid tumors, all of which are aggressive lesions; however, the histologic type is quite variable and no definite trends can be established.