A rare type of skin cancer that begins in the oil-producing (sebaceous) glands of the skin is called sebaceous carcinoma. Moreover, this is an aggressive cancer that may grow fast, return after treatment, or spread throughout the body. One of the most common symptoms is a bump similar to a pimple on the upper eyelid. However, the tumor may develop anywhere in the body. In most cases, doctors treat this type of cancer with Mohs surgery.
While carcinoma is a medical term for cancer, physicians may also refer to sebaceous carcinoma as sebaceous gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland adenocarcinoma, or Meibomian gland carcinoma.
However, this type of cancer occurs rarely. Between 5% and 10% of skin cancers are eyelid tumors. Moreover, approximately 1% of all these cancers are sebaceous carcinoma. This type of cancer primarily affects women and people between the ages of 60 and 80, but it may also occur at any age.
Symptoms
In most cases, this type of cancer affects the upper eyelids, but may also affect the lower eyelids. Usually, you should pull the eyelid carefully to see the lump. You may notice:
- A round, yellow, firm, and painless bump that looks similar to a pimple
- Thickened yellow or red crusty skin near the eyelashes
- A bleeding sore that does not heal or return after healing
In severe cases, you may experience other symptoms. For example:
- Loss of eyelashes
- Oozing growths on both the upper and lower eyelids
- Conjunctivitis (reddish eyes)
- Vision problems
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Causes
Healthcare professionals do not know what exactly causes this type of cancer. However, they think exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays may contribute to it. It may also appear in people who receive radiation therapy to the neck or head, especially younger individuals.
Furthermore, sebaceous carcinoma tends to spread to nearby lymph nodes. These are specific glands that are responsible for removing damaged cells from the lymphatic system.
Risk Factors
Those who suffer from a rare inherited disease known as Muir-Torre syndrome are more prone to develop this type of cancer and colorectal cancer. This syndrome is a rare form of Lynch syndrome that causes the tumors to develop in the sebaceous glands. Check below for other factors that may increase the risk of sebaceous carcinoma:
- Race – Some recent studies have shown that people of Asian descent are more likely to develop sebaceous carcinoma.
- Weakened immune system – It often occurs due to HIV infection, other types of cancer, and treatments to treat cancer (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and others).
- Organ transplant medicines
- Immunosuppressants for psoriasis or arthritis
- A family history of sebaceous carcinoma – If you have a parent or sibling with this type of cancer, your risk of developing it significantly increases.
What Are The Potential Complications of Sebaceous Carcinoma?
People who develop this type of cancer may also experience some complications. Check below some examples:
- Recurrent cancer
- Metastasis to nearby tissues or distant organs (such as the liver, lungs, bones, and others)
- Vision disorders
- Death
This document does not contain a complete list of sebaceous carcinoma complications. Moreover, you can talk with your doctor about ways to prevent these complications.
Diagnosis
When doctors suspect this type of cancer, you may be referred to a dermatologist (a physician who specializes in skin disorders). The diagnosis usually begins with a physical examination to check for abnormalities linked to the disease. Dermatologists may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history. However, to confirm this type of cancer and rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms, they often perform a biopsy. During this procedure, doctors will take a small amount of affected tissue for testing under a microscope to check for cancerous cells. The biopsy is often performed by an ophthalmologist if the tumor develops on the eyelids.
Healthcare professionals may perform additional tests (such as imaging tests) to determine the stage (extent) of cancer. It helps make the best treatment plan for you.
Treatment
Check below the most common treatments often recommended by doctors for people with sebaceous carcinoma:
- Wide local excision – This option involves cutting the tumor along with the normal surrounding tissue.
- Mohs surgery – During this procedure, surgeons will remove the tumor and some healthy tissue around it. It helps make sure there are no remaining cancerous cells after surgery. In some cases, healthy tissue can be tested under a microscope to determine if the patient needs to remove more tissue.
- Radiation therapy – This is a cancer treatment that uses powerful energy to kill cancer cells. This energy often comes from X-rays, protons, and other sources. Commonly, this is an effective treatment when surgery is not an option, to shrink a large tumor before surgery, or after surgery to destroy cancer cells that may remain.
Sometimes, people need reconstructive surgery. This procedure reduces scarring and improves eyelid function.
If the cancer has metastasized, doctors may also prescribe chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy to destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other conditions cause bumps on the eyelids?
There are some health conditions that can be mistaken for sebaceous carcinoma. These include:
- Blepharitis (swollen eyelids)
- Chalazion (eyelid cyst)
- Pink eye (eye infection)
- Stye (oil gland infection)
This article does not contain all possible diseases that can be mistaken for sebaceous carcinoma. However, it is very important to see a doctor if you experience symptoms similar to this type of cancer.
What else on the body does sebaceous carcinoma develop in?
While in most cases, these tumors develop on the upper eyelid, they can grow in other parts of the body as well. These include the back, chest, abdomen (belly), genitals, and buttocks. See a doctor right away if you notice changes to a mole or birthmark on the skin, new skin growths, or slow-growing pink or yellow skin bumps.
Is sebaceous carcinoma fatal?
Most people (90%) with sebaceous carcinoma survive with treatment. In general, the prognosis of this type of cancer is better for people who get treatment. This type of cancer can be fatal if you ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment, or get it too late in advanced stages. Ask your healthcare professional if you have any other questions.
