Solitary neurofibroma of eyelid masquerading as chalazion

Nancy Chen,1 Yung-Hsiang Hsu,2 Yuan-Chieh Lee1,3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan; 2Department of Pathology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan; 3Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan Abstract: Neurofibroma, a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor, usually appears together with café-au-lait spots, iris nodules, and other tumors within the scope of neurofibromatosis von Recklinghausen type 1 tumors. A solitary neurofibroma of the eyelid is relatively rare. In this case report, we present a 39-year-old woman who had a lesion on the eyelid crease, previously treated as a chalazion. Due to persistent wound crusting, the lesion was excised above the tarsus. Pathological examination revealed a solitary neurofibroma. The patient did not have other clinical symptoms of neurofibromatosis, and there was no recurrence of the nodule during the 1-year follow-up. Keywords: neurofibroma, eyelid tumor, chalazion