Sebaceous carcinoma of the caruncle.

PURPOSE: To report a case of sebaceous carcinoma of the caruncle.

METHODS: A 68-year-old woman developed a slowly enlarging mass of her left caruncle. Incisional biopsy elsewhere was interpreted histopathologically as invasive squamous cell carcinoma. On the basis of the clinical findings, however, we suspected sebaceous carcinoma. Excisional biopsy with frozen section control was undertaken and the lesion was studied histopathologically.

RESULTS: Histopathological examination disclosed infiltration of the caruncular stroma by lobules of a malignant neoplasm that had prominent cytoplasmic vacuoles, typical of sebaceous carcinoma.

CONCLUSION: Although it is best known to arise in the meibomian glands of the tarsus, sebaceous carcinoma can rarely arise in the caruncle and can be misinterpreted histopathologically as squamous cell carcinoma.