Plastics Coach 006 was originally published on November 3rd, 2020.
This 65-year-old man was referred to you for ptosis. What could be the cause? What else do you see that is concerning?
Analysis
Here, we see involutional aponeurotic ptosis of the left upper eyelid. In addition, we see a lesion suspicious for melanoma of the right lower eyelid.
Eyelid melanoma typically presents in older adults and rarely occurs in non-Caucasians. Cumulative sun exposure and blistering sunburns are the key risk factors for melanoma. Periocular melanoma causes tissue destruction of surrounding structures, seen in this patient as ulcerative skin changes and madarosis. Be aware that melanoma may also present as a non-pigmented (amelanotic) lesion.
In this 13-minute video featuring Dr. Ahsen Hussain, assistant professor at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, you will:
- Learn how to identify periocular melanoma
- Learn how to take a thorough history for periocular melanoma
- Review the management for periocular melanoma
Plastics Coach Tip
Remember the ABCDE of melanoma: asymmetry, irregular borders, heterogeneous colour, diameter larger than 6mm, and evolution over time.
Not receiving our tips yet? Subscribe to receive them straight to your inbox.
