| Douglas RS, Goldstein
SM, Einhorn E, Ibarra MS, Gausas RE.
Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie
Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 51 N 39th St, Fifth
Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
A 47-year-old woman presented complaining
of progressive, painless swelling of
all 4 eyelids for 6 weeks. Her medical history was significant
for breast cancer
14 months prior. Examination results showed a diffuse, firm
thickening of all 4
eyelids with mild erythema of the overlying skin. Orbital
computer tomography
revealed extensive preseptal infiltration of soft tissue of
all 4 eyelids, which
enhanced with contrast. Results of a bilateral biopsy of the
upper eyelids
demonstrated extensive infiltration of the orbicularis muscle.
Histologic features were consistent with metastatic breast
cancer. Results of both the primary breast cancer biopsy taken
14 months previously and the eyelid biopsies were the same
histologic type. Presentation of metastatic breast cancer
to the eyelids is rare, but a recurrence must be considered
in any patient with a history of breast cancer, despite the
length of tumor-free survival. Bilateral involvement should
not exclude metastases from diagnostic consideration, but
rather, the diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion
and recognition of the various cutaneous forms.
Cutis. 2002 Nov;70(5):291-3.
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