Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Removal of a Solitary Neurofibroma from the Eyelid Margin: Adding to the Existing Case-Based Literature

Asir N, Tom RM, Kafa G, Hegab M and Qureshi F

Neurofibroma is a benign tumor of peripheral nerve sheath origin which is usually found as part of
neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1). This case report describes the removal of a solitary neurofibroma from the upper
eyelid margin of an asymptomatic 59-year-old female with no other neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) features. The
patient presented with a painless, cyst-like lesion on the left upper lid margin. A cyst of Zeiss was clinically
suspected and surgical excision under local anaesthesia was agreed. Histopathological analysis of the excised
material stated that the sample contained bland fusiform cells with wavy nuclei arranged in fascicles. Cells were
strongly positive for S100. These findings are compatible with a benign neurofibroma. A survey of the existing
(English) literature suggests that there have been only nine cases of solitary neurofibroma of the eyelid previously
reported, all of them occurring in the last eight years. Because of the possibility of the recurrence, the transformation
to malignant lesion and the association of systemic malignancy, neurofibroma should be one of the differential
diagnoses of any tarsal cyst and ophthalmologists should be aware of that.