To investigate the clinical features and treatment results in eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma.

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 28 adult patients that were histopathologically diagnosed with eyelid sebaceous gland carcinomas from April 1981 to March 2005 in Seoul National University Hospital.

Among the 28 cases of eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma, 9 cases (32.1%) had evidences of local invasion or metastasis at the initial diagnosis. Surgical resection was performed in the 27 cases (96.4%), and conjunctival cryotherapy, surgeries, such as maxillectomy, parotidectomy, and neck dissection, or radiation therapy were combined in cases of local invasion or metastasis. In the 19 cases of the localized tumor group, there were 2 cases (10.5%) of recurrence after an average 30 months of follow-up. The locally invasive tumor group (2 cases) showed 1 case of recurrence after 12 months of follow-up. In the 7 cases of the distant metastasis tumor group, tumors in 3 cases (42.9%) could not be controlled, and 3 cases (75.0%) showed recurrence after an average 45 months of follow-up.

Eyelid sebaceous gland carcinomas with local invasion or metastasis afford higher potential for treatment failure, so early diagnosis is crucial. Because recurrence is possible, even when the tumor is completely removed, the extent of the tumor should be examined thoroughly and microscopically.