Eyelid Tumors: Benign Melanocytic Tumors

Benign tumors of the eyelid include a variety of nonpigmented and pigmented epidermal tumors (arising from squamous or melanocytic cells), adnexal tumors (Chap. 9 ), and stromal tumors (Chap. 10 ). Important to note is that not all clinically pigmented lesions are melanocytic, since squamous cell proliferations (Chap. 3 ) can include scattered melanocytes or melanin pigment, thus giving a pigmented appearance to a non-melanocytic lesion. The benign epidermal tumors of the eyelid are similar to those observed in other sun-exposed areas of the skin. Some of these tumors represent manifestations of systemic disease (Chap 15 ). A classification of the melanocytic eyelid tumors is presented. Only the description of the most common and frequently observed benign melanocytic tumors, along with their corresponding premalignant lesions and tumor-like non-neoplastic lesions, is included in this chapter.