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Case Reports
. 2014 Aug 14:2014:bcr2013202979.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202979.

A rapidly growing lid lump

Su-Yin Koay  1 , Richard M H Lee  1 , Charles Hugkulstone  1 , Ian Aureliano Stephen Rodrigues  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rapidly growing lid lump

Su-Yin Koay et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 97-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of a rapidly growing, painless, left upper eyelid lesion. Examination revealed a large vascularised, ulcerated nodule on the left upper lid, causing significant ptosis. Wide local excision of the lesion was performed and the wound was left to heal by secondary intention. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the lesion confirmed a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare primary malignancy of the eyelid which has significant morbidity and mortality. Although uncommon, this diagnosis should always be considered in any patient with a rapidly growing lid lump. In view of the patient's age, known dementia and family wishes, the patient was managed conservatively, with no further investigations performed. She was due to be followed up in clinic on a regular basis, but has since died from other causes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photograph of the left upper lid lesion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photomicrographs showing a H&E-stained section of the excised lesion (A) and cytokeratin (CK) 20 immunohistochemical stain of the lesion (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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