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Eyelid malignancies in young individuals: clinical peculiarities

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Abstract

Objective

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.

Methods

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

Results

A total of 24 malignant eyelid tumors from 17 patients were identified. Twelve (70.6%) patients were female, and the most prevalent tumor was basal cell carcinoma (62.5%). Three (17.6%) patients had xeroderma pigmentosum and presented with multiple lesions. Family history of skin cancer was reported by 47% of patients. Prolonged sun exposure was reported by 41.2%; history of smoking and intentional tanning were reported by 23.5 and 17.6%, respectively, and might have played a role in carcinogenesis.

Conclusions

Although uncommon in young subjects, eyelid malignancies present some peculiarities in individuals under 40 years of age. Our results suggest that women with family history of skin cancer and history of chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation are at risk. Association with genetic syndromes is also relevant among younger age groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Débora F. Biazim, Midori H. Osaki, Fabio Leonardo & Tammy H. Osaki

  2. Eye and Eyelid Experts, R. Joao Moura, 661 cj 84, São Paulo, SP, 05412-001, Brazil

    Midori H. Osaki & Tammy H. Osaki

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shiley Eye Institute, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Don O. Kikkawa & Catherine Y. Liu

Authors
  1. Débora F. Biazim
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  2. Midori H. Osaki
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  3. Don O. Kikkawa
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  4. Catherine Y. Liu
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  5. Fabio Leonardo
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  6. Tammy H. Osaki
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Contributions

DFB: acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; drafting the work; final approval. MHO: design and conception of the study; analysis, and interpretation of data; critical revision for important intellectual content; final approval. DOK: acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; critical revision for important intellectual content; final approval. CYL: acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; critical revision for important intellectual content; final approval. FL: analysis and interpretation of data; critical revision for important intellectual content; final approval. THO: design and conception of the study; analysis, and interpretation of data; critical revision for important intellectual content; final approval.

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Correspondence to Midori H. Osaki.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the UNIFESP (#1333/ 2020) and UCSD (#210647) IRBs and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Biazim, D.F., Osaki, M.H., Kikkawa, D.O. et al. Eyelid malignancies in young individuals: clinical peculiarities. Int Ophthalmol 42, 1867–1874 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-021-02184-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-021-02184-3

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