Retrospective demographic analysis of 450 eyelid tumours

Eyelids are a small anatomical structure, yet they contain several histological layers from which benign and malignant tumours can originate. Compared to other parts of the face, the eyelids are often the first place where neoplasms or disease changes are noticed. The aim of this study was to analyze eyelid tumours over a 10-year period. A retrospective study of 436 patients (450 eyes) who underwent oculoplastic surgery in an ophthalmology department over a 10-year period was performed. Descriptive, dispersion and correlation analyses were performed. The demographic analysis provided a clear assessment of the distribution and incidence of eyelid tumours according to age, size, histology and place of residence. Age and malignancy were in a positively significant relationship and increased together. The cases of benign eyelid tumours began to increase in terms of number out of the total cases observed after the age of 40, and malignant tumours after the age of 60. The trend in benign tumours continued until the age of 70, when the increase became four-fold, after which they decreased again at the expense of malignant tumours, which were already increased six-fold by the age of 70. Eighty percent of all malignant tumours of the eyelids were diagnosed after 60 years of age. A patient with an eyelid tumour is to be referred for treatment to an ophthalmologist by medical specialists of all specialties. Early patient referral is directly related to treatment success.