Isolated conjunctival neurofibromas at the puncta, an unusual cause of epiphora

Palpebral Tarsal Solitary Neurofibroma

Solitary neurofibroma is a rare, benign tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath, and is often associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. Herein, a case of palpebral tarsal solitary neurofibroma in a patient without neurofibromatosis is presented, with a review of the literature. A 68-year-old man presented with a subcutaneous mass in the right upper eyelid of 6 months’ duration. Eversion of the eyelid revealed a round, reddish mass on the lateral part of the tarsal plate which measured 12x8 mm in size. The lesion was excised with its tarsal base, diagnosed histologically, and did not recur during a follow-up of 34 months. Isolated, solitary neurofibroma of the eyelid has been reported in a total of 7 cases, including the case presented herein. The tumors arose from the eyelid margin in 4 cases, from the tarsal plate in 2 cases, and from the supratarsal conjunctiva in 1 case. The tumor did not recur after surgical excision in 5 cases for which follow-up data were available.