Eye Lid Problems - Lid Tumors

Lid Tumors

Non cancerous or Benign lid tumors include papillomas, nevus, hemangiomas and neurofibromas. Some of the other benign growth can progress to malignancy like actinic keratosis and keratoacanthoma which require excision.

Lid malignancies are quite common and most often develop in the sun exposed older individuals. 9 to 15% of the skin malignancies involve the lids. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant lid tumor which accounts for 85 to 95% of the lid tumors. Others are squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma and melanoma.

Diagnosis of any chronic lid lesion is made by biopsy by an eye doctor. Treatment involves complete removal of the lesion with some surrounding normal skin followed by surgical reconstruction of the defect in the lid. Fortunately, lid tumors are mostly locally growing and spread very slowly. Hence, they can be cured if treated early.