Incidence of Cutaneous Melanoma of Eyelid Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database

Abstract

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The aim of this work was to report the annual incidence, incidence trend, histological types, and cause-specific survival of cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid from 1975 through to 2017. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Cases were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database using the ICD-0–3 standard codes for diagnosis and anatomic location. Cutaneous melanomas of the face and scalp/neck were studied as comparison groups. Incidence rates were calculated using the SEER*Stat statistical analysis software with 95% confidence intervals. Melanoma-specific survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limited method. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was an increase in annual incidence of eyelid melanoma over the 43-year study period, ranging from a low of 0.2 × 10⁶ population in 1978 (95% CI 0.04–0.6) to a high of 1.0 × 10⁶ population in 2016 (95% CI 2.3–3.5). The average annual percent change was 1.2% (95% CI 0.5–1.8). Cause-specific survival of melanoma of the eyelid and facial skin were almost identical (approx. 91.7%) at 60 months but significantly worse for melanoma of the scalp/neck (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05%). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid is uncommon compared to melanoma of facial skin and the scalp/neck. This can be explained in part by the comparatively small surface area at risk. Like melanomas elsewhere, the annual incidence of eyelid melanoma has risen over the last 4 decades, but less than of facial skin and the scalp/neck. Over the span of this study, cause-specific survival from eyelid melanoma was comparable to that of facial skin and better than that of the scalp/neck.