A Rare Case of Cutaneous Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Eyelid: A Case Report and Literature Review

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignancy of the salivary glands [1]. MEC is uncommon in other parts of the body, especially in the periocular region. We report an especially rare case of cutaneous MEC of the eyelid that was successfully treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. The patient has experienced no recurrence of the neoplasm 4 years following successful surgical resection and reconstruction.

A 72-years-old female presented to the clinic in April 2016 for evaluation of a left upper eyelid mass. The patient reported that the lesion was painless, cyst-like, and progressively enlarging since she first noticed the lesion 3 months prior to presentation. The patient had no history of significant ocular illness, ocular surgery, or significant family history of eye disease. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed a 3 × 3 mm round, elevated mass in the central aspect of the left upper eyelid just superior to the eyelid cilia (shown in Fig. 1a). The lesion could be partially transilluminated and a small amount of blood or hyperpigmentation was noted on the inferior aspect of the lesion. The remainder of her examination was remarkable only for mild cataracts.

A biopsy was obtained and histopathology revealed lobular proliferation of basaloid epidermal cells forming large nests, with an admixture of mucus-secreting glandular cells and numerous mitotic figures present within the nests (shown in Fig. 2a). Immunohistochemical staining for carcinoembryonic antigen was positive (shown in Fig. 2b). The malignant lesion was excised with negative margins by Mohs micrographic surgery, leaving a full-thickness eyelid defect measuring 0.8 × 1.1 cm (shown in Fig. 1b). Subsequent reconstruction of the eyelid was performed by direct closure with the aid of a Tenzel semicircular flap (shown in Fig. 1c). The patient’s wound healed as intended, and the patient had a good functional and aesthetic outcome. With regular follow-up and surveillance for 4 years, the patient has had no recurrence of cutaneous MEC.

MEC is the most common malignancy of the major and minor salivary glands, accounting for 30% of salivary malignancies [1]. MEC was first established in 1945 by Stewart et al. [2] as being characterized by a mixture of epidermoid and mucus-secreting cells. Though it is most commonly found in the salivary glands, MEC has been reported less frequently to affect other locations in the body, such as the lungs and breasts, and has been reported to affect the ocular region, including the lacrimal gland and conjunctiva, in even fewer cases [3-6].

Only 9 reports of primary cutaneous MEC of the eyelid have been previously documented in the literature, with our patient representing only the tenth reported case of its kind [7-15]. These cases, along with the case we present here, have been summarized and shown in Table 1, emphasizing initial presentation of the MEC lesion, time to initial presentation, treatment strategy utilized, recurrence status, time of follow-up, presentation during time of recurrence, and any other consequences of the treatment approach utilized. In reviewing the available literature on cutaneous MEC of the eyelid collectively, several important points can be made in order to guide future care and therapeutic approaches.

It is important to note that cutaneous MEC lesions of the eyelid can vary in presentation. Most patients reported a painless, progressively enlarging nodule, with only one patient reporting pain as a symptom accompanying the lesion. There can be a presence or absence of ulceration, and depending on time to initial patient presentation to the clinic, the size of the neoplasm can vary drastically. Size can vary from a round 2 mm mass to a lesion spanning 2/3 the width of the eyelid. MEC lesions can overall appear quite harmless. Our patient presented with a relatively small, cyst-like lesion that could be partially transilluminated and was marked by a small amount of blood or hyperpigmentation on the inferior aspect of the lesion. Histologically, it has been previously established that MEC is characterized by a mixture of epidermal cells and mucus-secreting cells and has also previously been reported to be immunohistochemically positive for carcinoembryonic antigen as in our patient’s case as well [10, 12, 15]. Therefore, awareness of this condition and the wide range in presentation when considering a differential diagnosis may help lead to successful diagnosis and timely treatment.

Equally as important to highlight from these cases is that various therapeutic approaches have been employed in the treatment of MEC with variation in short- and long-term results. As highlighted by the cases presented by Agrawal et al. [7], Singh et al. [12], Biswas et al. [13], and Vogel et al. [11], conservative treatment methods are insufficient in the management of aggressive MEC of the eyelid. Simple local surgical resection was shown to lead to tumor recurrence in the same location soon after resection [7, 12]. Simple local resection in combination with heat cauterization can lead to poor functional and aesthetic outcomes, such as entropion formation [13]. In addition, irradiation alone can provide a reduction in tumor size but can consequently lead to tumor recurrence of the aggressive MEC tumor [11].

In contrast, several other cases highlight that early and/or aggressive treatment strategies provide more sufficient management of MEC tumors, leading to better remission success. A relatively early diagnosis of an MEC lesion with a 20 months history and aggressive treatment with a combination of exenteration of the orbit and irradiation led to an absence of recurrence at two-and-a-half year follow-up as reported by Vogel et al. [11]. Similarly, early diagnosis of a MEC lesion with only a few weeks history of a relatively small neoplasm was treated with local surgical resection, leading to an absence of recurrence at 1 year follow-up as reported by Zhang et al. [10]. As reported by Nouri et al. [9] and in our current report, Mohs micrographic surgery with identification of negative margins of relatively small MEC lesions, followed by oculoplastic reconstructive surgery has allowed for the longest reported remission (3 and 4 years, respectively) and achievement of good functional and aesthetic results.

In summary, cutaneous MEC of the eyelid is a very rare diagnosis that can appear relatively harmless on presentation. Awareness of this condition and its wide range in presentation when considering a differential diagnosis may help lead to successful diagnosis and timely treatment. From the limited number of cases reported, it appears that remission is best achieved with early therapeutic intervention and employment of more aggressive treatment approaches. We, along with Nouri et al. [9], have observed longer cancer remission results with good functional and aesthetic outcomes with an approach that combines Mohs micrographic surgery and oculoplastic reconstructive surgery. We believe this report and brief review helps to summarize the currently available reports on an especially rare case presentation of a relatively common neoplasm. We also hope this elevates awareness of MEC in the differential diagnosis of eyelid neoplasms and helps guide therapeutic approaches.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. The case was written with adherence to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki as amended in 2013.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The authors have no funding sources to disclose.

Robin Su contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work, and drafting, revising, and submitting the work. Ayad Abrou contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work, and revision of the work. Michael Abowd contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work, and revision of the work. All the authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.