Spindle Cell Carcinoma of the Ocular Adnexa: A Case Report and Literature Review

A 68-year-old woman was seen in oculoplastic consultation with a medial canthal lesion initially diagnosed as an atypical fibroxanthoma. On excisional biopsy, she was found to have a spindle cell carcinoma, which is a rare and reportedly more aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma. The authors highlight the surgical technique of biopsy and reconstruction, the detailed histologic and immunohistochemical analysis required for accurate diagnosis, considerations for adjuvant treatment, and suggestions for systemic workup and surveillance. This case adds to the small body of available literature on primary spindle cell carcinoma of the ocular surface and ocular adnexa, which the authors have summarized. They hope that as more data become available, there will be clearer diagnostic and treatment algorithms for this uncommon presentation.