Palpebral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Description of the Disease and Clinical Picture
Palpebral squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid skin) is a malignant tumor that arises from keratinocytes that make up the epidermis or line the ducts of Meibomian glands. The tumor is highly invasive, aggressively spreads to surrounding tissue, and can quickly progress from the eyelids to the conjunctiva and the entire eyeball, although it metastasizes slowly. Exposure to UV rays and chronic inflammation are considered contributing factors. It is more commonly diagnosed in cats and animals with white fur. If diagnosed early, the rate of cure is high; however, failure to act in time can result in a fatal outcome. Therefore, early recognition is crucial. The tumor most commonly appears on hairless or short-haired skin areas (ears, eyelids) and initially resembles a scratch. The lesion soon starts to spread, often level with the skin, but may also be concave or convex, cauliflower-like or irregularly shaped, light or darker pink in color. Numerous ulcerations appear on the tumor later, leading to wounds and a more intensely red color. Accompanying blepharoconjunctivitis is often observed.
 
Therapy
A diagnosis is made through histopathological examination of the tumor. Due to the metastatic potential, aspiration of regional lymph nodes and examination of the aspirate are conducted. It's advisable to perform an MRI and CT scan of the head. The tumor is surgically excised, and local chemotherapy with mitomycin is administered. In the early stage of the disease, phototherapy can also be used for tumor destruction, although this technique has so far only been described in horses.
 
Please contact our specialty veterinary ophthalmology hospital Animal Eye Consultants
of Iowa (animaleyeiowa@gmail.com) in USA or Oculus Veterinary Specialty Hospital
(oculusklinika@gmail.com) in Serbia, Europe to schedule an appointment so your pet
can be seen.