Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Eyelid Can Locally Recur and Mimic Basal Cell Carcinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the eyelid is a very rare tumor, and only 11 cases have been previously reported in the literature. Here the authors report the 12th case of eyelid ACC that was initially diagnosed as adenoid basal cell carcinoma. This is the first report of local recurrence after wide local excision using the Mohs technique. Additionally, this is the first report that demonstrates that ACC can present clinically and histologically similar to basal cell carcinoma. The authors summarize the previous reports of eyelid ACC to compile a reference for this growing body of literature. It is important for oculoplastic surgeons and dermatopathologists to keep ACC in the differential diagnosis of eyelid tumors and carefully examine histology specimens with this differential in mind.