Abstract

A 68-year-old man with chronic use of an ocular prosthesis for phthisis bulbi of his left eye due to ocular trauma 25 years ago was referred to our ophthalmic department with a 6-month history of repetitive upper eyelid abscess with poor response to treatment.

Examination revealed upper and lower eyelid edema with erythema, friable tissue of eye socket with tendency to bleed. No areas suspicious for malignancy were noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit revealed an enhancing preseptal orbital mass with signs of focal infiltration into ipsilateral anterior ethmoid cells.

Surgical biopsy was performed, and a segment of the conjunctiva sent for pathology revealed basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. Orbital exenteration was performed followed by various sessions of radiotherapy. This case of a patient who developed squamous cell carcinoma due to long-term placement of an ocular prosthesis confirms the importance of regular inspection of the anophthalmic socket containing prosthesis to rule out conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma is prudent along with a high clinical suspect.