Palpebral cutaneous melanomas: a review of 17 cases from a tertiary center.

BACKGROUND

Melanomas arising from eyelid skin are exceptionally rare, accounting for <1% of eyelid malignancies and all cutaneous melanomas. The aim of this study was to identify the histopathological features and clinical behaviors of the palpebral skin melanoma patients from a single tertiary institution.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Seventeen Caucasian patients diagnosed with eyelid cutaneous melanoma were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 59 years, and females were predominant (n = 11). The most frequent localization of the lesions was the lower eyelid (n = 8). Nodular (n = 4), lentigo maligna (n = 3), and the superficial spreading melanoma (n = 3) were the most common histopathological subtypes. Only three patients had in situ melanomas. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were present in most of the patients; however, only a few cases had lymphovascular invasion. Regional lymph node involvement was present in two patients, and distant metastasis was found in only one patient. Four patients (24%) had disease relapses during follow-up, all of which were locoregional. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) time and 5-year RFS rate were 26.3 months and 60.4%, respectively. Two patients (12%) died. Median OS time was 32.1 months, and 5-year OS rate was 84%. Being elderly (older than 60 years of age) (P = 0.05), lesion originating from canthus compared to eyelid (P = 0.03) and presence of recurrence in follow-up (P = 0.04) have been found as poor prognostic indicators for OS.

CONCLUSION

Palpebral skin melanoma is associated with favorable clinical features, and it is correlated with better survival rates.