A very rare case of eyelid metastasis originating from lung adenocarcinoma

Int Ophthalmol. 2016 Oct;36(5):743-6. doi: 10.1007/s10792-016-0170-2. Epub 2016 Jan 12.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a very rare eyelid mass confirmed to be a metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A 68-year-old man had a two-month history of a large nodule in the right upper eyelid. He was a known case of lung adenocarcinoma since 2 years without a history of systemic metastasis. He underwent further investigations including orbital imaging and biopsy of the lesion.

Results: Biopsy and immunohistochemical evaluations of the eyelid lesion revealed a moderate to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, a similar histology to the lung lesion.

Conclusions: Metastatic involvement of the eyelids is rarely seen; specifically, those associated with lung adenocarcinoma as the source have been reported extremely rare. Eyelid metastases present with various and non-specific clinical features, and therefore biopsy of suspicious or recurrent lesions is highly recommended to rule out such malignant processes.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Eyelid lesion; Eyelid metastasis; Lung carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Eyelid Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins