title: Periocular cutaneous malignancies: a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The periocular skin is susceptible to numerous benign and malignant neoplasms. Periocular malignancies may present differently, behave more aggressively, and pose greater challenges for treatment and repair than malignancies at other cutaneous sites. Between 5% and 10% of cutaneous malignancies occur periorbitally, with basal cell carcinoma reported as the most common malignant periocular tumor, followed by squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and other rare tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on cutaneous malignancies of the periocular region pertaining to etiology, incidence, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, complications, and treatment options.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, searching for articles on periocular and periorbital cutaneous malignancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timely diagnosis and management of periocular malignancies is essential because of their proximity to and potential to invade vital structures such as the orbit, sinuses, and brain. Surgical excision remains the standard of care for the majority of periorbital malignancies, but given the sensitive anatomic location, tissue-sparing techniques with margin control such as Mohs micrographic surgery are the preferred method for most nonmelanoma skin cancers. Depending on tumor type, other treatment modalities may include radiation, chemotherapy, cryosurgery, topical medications, and photodynamic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. jordanslutsky@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jordan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Slutsky
authors.forename: Evan C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012626:Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*