Eyelid
The second most common eyelid cancer — keratotic, indurated lesions with a higher risk of spread, and their surgical treatment.
Medically reviewed by Morris E. Hartstein, MD, FACSOculoplastic SurgeonLast updated June 2026
Part of our complete guide to Eyelid Skin Tumors — this page covers squamous cell carcinoma in depth.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common eyelid malignancy, accounting for ~5–10% of eyelid cancers. It arises from keratinocytes of the epidermis and has a significantly higher metastatic potential than BCC — regional lymph node metastasis occurs in 1–24% of periocular SCC depending on subtype, depth, and location.
Risk factors: cumulative UV exposure, actinic keratosis (precursor lesion), immunosuppression (solid organ transplant recipients have a dramatically increased risk), xeroderma pigmentosum, chronic inflammation or scarring, and prior radiation therapy.
Clinical appearance: SCC often arises within an actinic keratosis and presents as an indurated, erythematous, scaly plaque that may ulcerate. Unlike BCC, the border tends to be less well-defined and the lesion may feel firm or fixed to deeper structures. The lower lid and lid margin are common sites.
High-risk features that increase recurrence and metastasis risk: perineural invasion, tumor thickness > 2 mm, poorly differentiated histology, recurrent lesion, immunosuppressed host, and location at the lid margin or medial canthus. High-risk periocular SCC warrants sentinel lymph node biopsy or elective parotid/neck imaging.
Treatment: Mohs surgery with same-day reconstruction is preferred for primary periocular SCC. Wide local excision with frozen-section control is an alternative. Adjuvant radiation therapy is used for perineural invasion, positive margins that cannot be cleared surgically, or regional nodal disease. Anti-PD-1 therapy (cemiplimab) is approved for locally advanced or metastatic SCC not amenable to surgery or radiation.
Schedule a consultation with Morris E. Hartstein, MD, FACS to learn if this procedure is right for you.
