Título

EYELID MALIGNANCIES IN YOUNG INDIVIDUALS: RISK FACTORS AND CLINICAL PECULIARITIES

Objetivo

The incidence of malignant eyelid tumors is considerably increasing, even in young patients. The purpose of this study was to identify particularities in individuals under 40 years of age affected by eyelid malignancies.

Método

Clinical charts of patients under 40 years of age who underwent eyelid tumor excision from 2014 to 2020 in two reference centers, one in the United States and one in Brazil, were reviewed. Demographic and outcome measures included: age, gender, skin phototype, comorbidities, diagnosis, time until diagnosis, lesion location, recurrence, metastasis, and risk factors. In addition, risk factors, including chronic sun exposure, intentional tanning, history of smoking, use of sunscreen, immunosuppression, family history of skin cancer and exposure to pesticides or herbicides, were reviewed.

Resultado

A total of 24 malignant eyelid tumors from 16 patients were identified. Eleven (68.8%) patients were female and the most prevalent tumor was basal cell carcinoma (62.5%). Three (18.8%) patients had xeroderma pigmentosum and presented with multiple lesions. Family history of skin cancer was reported by 50%. Prolonged sun exposure was reported by 37.5% of patients; history of smoking and intentional tanning were reported by 25% and 18.8%, respectively, and might have played a role in carcinogenesis. Average time from lesion appearance to surgery was 42.6 months in the Brazilian center and 20.6 months in the American center.

Conclusão

Although uncommon in younger age groups, eyelid malignancies present some unique clinical characteristics in individuals under 40 years of age. Our results suggest that individuals with family history of skin cancer and history of exposure to ultraviolet radiation are at higher risk to develop eyelid malignancies at a younger age. Because eyelid malignancies can result in significant morbidity and healthcare cost, methods to increase public awareness regarding preventive measures and early diagnosis are essential, especially in individuals living in higher-UV index locations.