title: Eyelid tumors: accuracy of clinical diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of the clinical diagnosis of malignant tumor of the eyelid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of consecutively submitted biopsy specimens of the eyelid for 1 year to a regional ophthalmic pathology laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agreement was noted between clinical and histopathologic diagnoses on 72 (84%) of 86 eyelid biopsy specimens received over 12 months. Ten (11.6%) clinical diagnoses of suspected malignant eyelid tumor showed benign skin conditions, and four (4.6%) clinical diagnoses of presumed benign conditions proved to be malignant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical assessment of eyelid malignancy by ophthalmologists is reasonably good when evaluated in terms of sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (81.5%) of diagnosis. Lesions giving rise to the false-negative diagnosis of malignancy tend to be nodules with unremarkable surface features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Watson Clinic, LLP, Lakeland, Florida 33805, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Margo
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis