Investigation of delayed lymph node metastasis cases from eyelid sebaceous carcinoma

Abstract

Eyelid sebaceous carcinoma is a rare tumor that originates from the sebaceous glands of the eyelids and is more likely to occur in the elderly. It is known that metastases to regional lymph nodes such as parotid lymph nodes and/or cervical lymph nodes are relatively common.
We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients with eyelid sebaceous carcinoma with delayed metastases to the parotid and/or cervical lymph nodes who underwent surgery at our department. Site distribution of lymph node metastasis was 8 cases with parotid lymph node metastasis only, and 2 cases with both parotid and cervical lymph node metastases. Regarding treatment, both parotid surgery and neck dissection should be considered. In this study, total parotidectomy and neck dissection （Level Ⅰ-Ⅴ） was performed in a majority of the cases （6 cases）. The 1-year disease-free survival rate was 48％, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 83％. Superficial cervical lymph node dissection should also be considered. Postoperative irradiation was performed in only one case. Postoperative pathological examination revealed no Level Ⅲ-Ⅴ lymph node metastasis, suggesting that level Ⅳ and Ⅴ lymph node dissection may be omitted in cases of parotid lymph node metastasis only.