Ophthalmology

Eyelid tumor

English: lid tumor

see also: tumor

Synonyms

Lids swelling, eye tumor, cancer, eye cancer

definition

Lid tumors are growths of the eyelids. These can be both good and bad.
To benign tumors count among others

Warts or also
Fat deposits (xanthelasma)
Blood sponges (hemangiomas).

Malignant tumors include the

Basaliomas
Melanoma

General

The malignant eyelid tumor that occurs most frequently (approx. 90%) is basal cell carcinoma (basalioma). This can also occur on other skin areas (e.g. nose, auricle). It mainly affects patients over the age of 60. This is semi-malignant, so to speak, semi-bad tumors that destroy the tissue in question locally, but only rarely spread (metastatic) spread to the rest of the body. This also increases the success of the therapy. Like most eyelid tumors, basal cell carcinoma is preferably treated surgically. However, if this is not possible due to the circumstances, cryotherapy and radiation therapy are also available as an alternative. The formation of basaliomas can be prevented with good sun protection. Above all, the long-term damaging UV-B radiation should be taken into account.

Read more on this topic: Effects of UV radiation on the skin
More and more young people are developing eyelid tumors.
Other, but rarer, malignant tumors of the eyelids are:

Squamous cell carcinoma
Sebum carcinoma
black skin cancer (malignant melanoma)

If a patient suffers from AIDS, the so-called Kaposi's sarcoma is also possible as a rare vascular tumor on the eyelids. These so-called xanthelasma are noticeable as yellowish nodules / foci around the eye. Moles or so-called keratoacanthomas can also appear on the eyelids.

Read more on this topic at: Basalioma of the eye

Detecting an eyelid tumor

What are the symptoms of an eyelid tumor?

An eyelid tumor doesn't always have to be bothersome. Depending on the location, the tumor can leave the patient completely unaffected. If the eyelid tumors are benign, there is usually only a cosmetic impairment.

Skin changes appear as the first palpable or visible symptoms of an eyelid tumor. These include lumps or discoloration (yellow, brown, black).Lid tumors tend to change over time, and malignant tumors such as basal cell carcinoma can gradually get larger over time.
However, benign tumors of the skin, such as keratoacanthoma, can rapidly increase in size and also recede just as quickly. Since there are various types of tumors that can settle on the lids, the most varied of symptoms can also occur.

The changes in the skin can both be painful and completely painless. The eyelid tumor can grow into surrounding structures such as the conjunctiva and lacrimal duct, and the eyelashes may fall out due to the growth of the eyelid tumor.
Since malignant tumors in particular usually grow very slowly but steadily, they may not be discovered until late.
Even the symptoms like

Eyelid inflammation
burst veins
Rash- or birthmark-like skin changes

cannot be clearly assigned to an eyelid tumor and therefore it can easily happen that the diagnosis of the malignant tumor is made late, with the result that the eye may even be lost.

How is an eyelid tumor diagnosed?

The diagnosis is usually a visual diagnosis. Most often, dermatologists or ophthalmologists diagnose an eyelid tumor through visible changes in the eyelid. Even if the patient is talking to the doctor (anamnese) tells of long sunbathing and frequent sunburns, this can be indicative of malignant eyelid tumors.

If a malignant tumor is suspected, a biopsy (Tissue sample) must be removed to confirm the diagnosis. The implementation of

Ultrasonic
X-ray or
CT examinations

the diagnosis and spread of the eyelid tumor can then be confirmed.

Treating an eyelid tumor

How is an eyelid tumor treated?

The treatment options for eyelid tumors depend on what type of tumor it is, how far it has progressed, where it is located and, consequently, what functional restrictions it brings with it. In addition, the age and general condition of the patient play an important role in the treatment decision.

If there is a benign eyelid tumor, it is usually necessary to wait and observe the growth in a documented manner.

In the case of malignant or benign, cosmetically unsightly and functionally restricting eyelid tumors, surgical removal is sought, as this is considered the safest method and, by keeping a safety margin, one can also remove potentially diseased tissue. Local anesthesia of the eyelids is usually sufficient and the procedure is completed after a few minutes.

If an operation is not possible or necessary, the patient can also be treated with radiation therapy. The skin is radiated from the outside and the cancer cells are destroyed. Apart from the general side effects of radiation therapy (such as diarrhea, vomiting, hair loss, etc.), the proximity to other structures that could be affected by the radiation is particularly problematic.

Another therapeutic approach is cryotherapy, in which the tumor is frozen using special instruments and then removed. Due to the extreme cold, however, skin changes can occur locally on the eyes, which are then difficult to distinguish from tumor recurrences.

Alternatively, a

Laser therapy
chemotherapy

should be considered. In individual cases, the tumor can also be scraped off (e.g. with xanthelasma).

Preventing an eyelid tumor

What are the causes of an eyelid tumor?

The causes of the eyelid tumor include a wide variety of triggers. A high level of solar radiation (UV radiation) can promote the development of eyelid tumors. In addition, high exposure to X-rays has a negative effect. A person's genetic makeup can play a role in the development of an eyelid tumor.

How can you prevent an eyelid tumor?

The emergence of malignant eyelid tumors can only be counteracted by not trying too much sun exposure.

Strong sun exposure and especially sunburns should be avoided, however, as these are generally harmful to the skin. A sunscreen with a high sun protection factor in conjunction with protective sunglasses can help here.
If skin changes, such as poorly healing wounds, discoloration or elevations above the normal skin level occur, these should be regularly examined and checked by the dermatologist.

How does an eyelid tumor come about?

An eyelid tumor can be both benign and malignant in nature and ranges from, for example, benign, blotchy xanthelasma to malignant basal cell carcinoma. The most common causes include all types of radiation such as X-rays and intense UV radiation. Symptoms of the eyelid tumor can be pain, discoloration or rapid growth in the size of the changes in the skin. The visual diagnosis of a dermatologist can provide an initial suspicion, which can be confirmed by, for example, a tissue sample.

The therapeutic approach is usually operative, but the procedure can be carried out under local anesthesia. The development of an eyelid tumor can be prevented by appropriate protection against radiation, e.g. in the form of sunglasses.

Course of an eyelid tumor

What is the course of an eyelid tumor?

Depending on

stage
location
Kind and
Spread

There are different courses of the eyelid tumor.

Benign tumors can disappear again within a year, but malignant tumors must be recognized and treated as early as possible in order to have the best possible chance of recovery.

If the malignant tumor of the lid is completely removed, a complete cure is very likely. Nevertheless, regular check-ups are necessary in the two following years after the tumor has been removed, as new skin changes can always occur.

In some cases, birthmarks can begin to grow and develop into a malignant eyelid tumor. Early and regular skin cancer screening is helpful here.