AIM: To study the incidence, epidemiology, and clinical characteristics of incidental malignant periocular tumors at the royal medical services hospitals of Jordan.

METHODS: Retrospective medical charts of 327 patients with malignant periocular tumor diagnosis at Jordan military hospitals between 2004 and 2015 were reviewed. Study variables included age, gender, city where patient lived, the presenting complaint(not caused by or related to tumor), clinical and histological diagnosis, size of the tumor, location, and surgical procedure.

RESULTS:A total of 327 charts reviewed, 46(14.1%)patients were found to have incidental malignant periocular tumor. Males where affected more than females with a ratio of 2:1. The average age was 66.39±10.59(22-83y). The most common presenting symptom or disease was blurring of vision secondary to cataract(44%), followed by combined cataract and other associated complaints such as epiphora in 21.7%.

Preliminary clinical diagnosis corresponded with histological diagnosis in 95.7% of skin cancer. The average size of the lesions was 1.04×0.85 mm²(0.2×0.2-3.0×3.0 mm²). There was no significant relationship between the maximum diameter of the tumor and age of the patient,(P=0.105). The most frequent location of tumors was the lower eyelid(30.4%)followed by the medial canthus(26.1%). The follow up period ranged between 6mo and 3y(average 9.3mo).

CONCLUSION: Incidental malignant periocular malignant tumors were relatively common in this study, which urges excision of any suspicious lesion particularly young patients. A prospective study is needed to investigate the reasons why some patients neglect these lesions.