Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of sebaceous gland carcinoma of the eyelid with regional lymph node metastasis

Abstract

A 55-year-old Asian Indian woman who had recurrent sebaceous gland carcinoma of the left lower eyelid with orbital extension and regional lymph node metastasis was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, using a combination of carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration was performed after 3 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy to the regional lymph nodes. Subsequently, 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were administered. Significant eyelid and orbital tumor volume reduction was achieved with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, making eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration possible. Chemotherapy also spared the patient from radical neck dissection. The patient had limited morbidity and was free of local, regional, and systemic disease at 26 months of follow-up.