Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin malignancy. Eyelids constitute a special location of BCC because of the proximity of the eyeball.
Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of BCC located on the eyelids, to examine the clinical and histologic types of BCCs in this location, and to present some reconstructive techniques used in the treatment of BCC in palpebral region.
Methods: There were 330 patients with BCC retrospectively included in the study. The comparison was performed between clinical and histologic features of BCCs located on eyelids and in other locations.
Results and conclusions: Approximately 16% of all tumors were located on the eyelids. The majority of tumors were situated on the lower eyelid. Noduloulcerative clinical type was observed in 96.3% of tumors. This type was significantly more frequently found on eyelids than on trunk and extremities (p<0.00001). The histologic nodular type was the most common found on eyelids. It was significantly more common on eyelids than on trunk and extremities (p=0.002). The superficial type was significantly less frequently found on the eyelids (p<0.00001). The infiltrative type was significantly more seldom observed on the eyelids compared with other locations of head and neck region (p=0.048). Some technical aspects of reconstructive surgery of the eyelids are presented.