Eyelid Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can occur on the skin of the eyelid or area surrounding the eye. Usually, the cancers appear as painless elevations or nodules. There may be ulceration of the involved area, along with bleeding, crusting and/or distortion of the normal skin structure.

What causes eyelid skin cancer?

As with all skin cancers excessive exposure to sunlight is the most important factor associated with eyelid skin cancers. They are also more common in fair skinned people. Skin cancers may be hereditary.

Types of eyelid skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma (this type tend not to spread to distant parts of the body)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (this type tend not to spread to distant parts of the body)
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma (This is a more serious type of skin cancer because it may spread to other parts of the body)
• Malignant melanoma (This is a more serious type of skin cancer because it may spread to other parts of the body)

Treatment

Complete removal of the tumour is necessary to minimise the possibility that it may recur. A pathologist will examine the tumour to make sure it has been completely removed.

Once the tumour has been removed, reconstructive surgery is often necessary.