Sebaceous Neoplasms – Sebaceous Carcinoma

Sebaceous Carcinoma is a rare cancer that I occasionally encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology clinics.  Sebaceous Carcinoma is most commonly found on the eyelids as it arises from the Meibomian and Zeis sebaceous glands.   The majority of Sebaceous Carcinomas arise on the upper eyelid but only account for 1% of all eyelid malignancies as Basal Cell Cancer is the most common eyelid cancer.  Sebaceous Carcinoma can also be found on the face, scalp and trunk.  Clinically, Sebaceous Carcinomas appear as white or flesh colored nodules that can bleed and resemble Basal Cell Cancer.  Sebaceous Carcinomas metastasize in up to 30% of all lesions diagnosed on the eyelid.  Patients with a diagnosis of Sebaceous Carcinoma should be evaluated for Muir Torre Syndrome in which these patients have a higher incidence of colon cancer and genitourinary cancer.  Treatment for Sebaceous Carcinoma is excision with Mohs surgery being an option.