DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CARCINOMA OF THE EYELIDS

Cutaneous cancer accounts for from 40 to 60% of all types of malignant lesions seen by the family physician. Carcinoma of the eyelid occurs in the older age group primarily; three-quarters of the patients are past 50 years of age. Men are slightly more susceptible to carcinoma of the eyelid than women; this is particularly true of the clinic groups. Of the facial epitheliomas, approximately 10 to 15% occurred about the eyelids,1although extremes of 2.73 to 55% were noted in various reported studies. According to Hasley,215% of all tumors of the lid are malignant. In all recorded series,3the greatest number of eyelid lesions were found on the inner canthus (table 1). The lower lid was also a common site for the development of lesions, particularly on its medial portion in the area toward the inner canthus. Four-fifths of all lower lid lesions were found