Laser surgery to remove eyelid cysts in cats

Abstract

Case series summary Between 2019 and 2024, four client-owned cats (three Persian cats, one Siberian cat) were referred to the ophthalmology and dermatology departments of a private veterinary hospital for one or more greyish lesions of the eyelids that had been evolving for one month to one year. Three cats underwent histological examination with a diagnosis of palpebral apocrine cystadenomatosis (PAC). In the fourth case, this could not be performed as the single lesion ruptured during surgery. All cats were treated by diode laser vapourisation under general anaesthesia. No recurrence was reported at any previous treated sites, including the first case, followed for six years. This report represents a retrospective case series of feline PAC. Relevance and novel information PAC is a rare benign cutaneous proliferation of modified apocrine glands of the eyelid (Moll’s glands), mainly described in Persian cats. It presents as one or more greyish cysts of varying sizes. To the authors’ knowledge, this case series is the first to report multiple feline cases of palpebral apocrine cystadenomatosis treated with diode laser vapourisation. Diode laser surgery appeared safe, well-tolerated and effective, with minimal post-operative pain or inflammation and no recurrence observed at treated sites. This technique represents a practical alternative to CO₂ laser treatment. However, its clinical use may be limited by equipment cost, the need for appropriate operator training, and the risk of collateral thermal injury if inappropriate settings are applied.