Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Eyelid Presenting as Trigeminal Neuralgia

Abstract

This paper describes two patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the periocular and periorbital skin who presented with trigeminal neuralgia. Both patients had previous cutaneous SCC of the scalp treated successfully with surgical resection but later presented with neuro-ophthalmic findings suggesting perineural invasion (PNI) of SCC. PNI of SCC in the periocular skin or orbit can lead to devastating effects if malignant cells seed into the orbit and adjacent cranial nerves as our two patients developed an orbital apex syndrome. Patients with a history of SCC of the scalp and forehead who later develop neuro-ophthalmological deficits or patients with persistent ocular symptoms should, in particular, be followed with a low threshold for cutaneous SCC or PNI of recurrent disease. SCC metastasizing into the periocular tissues and orbit by neural invasion is rare and carries a poor prognosis. The urgency for a prompt diagnosis and evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is warranted to prevent untoward outcomes of this skin cancer.