To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with malignant eyelid tumors in Korea.

We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 73 patients with malignant eyelid tumors who were histologically diagnosed at Seoul St. Mary's hospital from April 2004 to September, 2012 and followed for 6 months or longer.

Of 73 cases, 41 (56.2%) were diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, 17 (23.3%) as squamous cell carcinoma, 11 (15.1%) as sebaceous gland carcinoma, 3 (4.1%) as malignant melanoma, and 1 (1.4%) as basosquamous cell carcinoma. The mean age at diagnosis was 68.4 ± 11.5 years. Tumors developed more commonly on the lower lid (54.8%). Most cases were treated by complete resection of tumors and eyelid reconstruction (95.9%). The prognosis of patients with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was good, while that of the other tumors was relatively poor.

The most common diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma (56.2%). Recurrence after complete surgical excision and reconstruction was uncommon.