Burn Scar Malignancies of the Eyelids

PURPOSE: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment of eyelid carcinomas developing in thermal burn scars. METHODS: A review of eight cases of eyelid burn scar malignancies: two from our own experience and six from published reports. RESULTS: Reported cases of burn scar malignancy of the eyelid are short-latency basal cell carcinomas. All carcinomas arose from small superficial burns. These potentially aggressive tumors respond well to local excision. CONCLUSION: As with other areas of the body, eyelid burn scars may undergo neoplastic degeneration. These carcinomas are predominately short latency basal cell carcinomas, rather than long-latency squamous cell carcinomas that are more common elsewhere in the body, including the head and neck region. Clinicians should be diligent in the long-term surveillance of all eyelid burns.