A 40-year-old woman presents with a painless, firm, round swelling on the upper eyelid of 3 weeks' duration, not adherent to skin but adherent to the tarsal plate. There is no tenderness or regional lymphadenopathy. The most likely diagnosis is:
- A Chalazion (meibomian cyst) ✓
- B Hordeolum externum (stye)
- C Sebaceous gland carcinoma
- D Preseptal cellulitis
Correct answer: A. Chalazion (meibomian cyst)
Explanation
A chalazion is a chronic lipogranulomatous inflammation of a meibomian (tarsal) gland resulting from obstruction and retention of sebaceous secretions. It presents as a painless, firm, smooth, round swelling within the tarsus, freely mobile under the skin, with no acute inflammatory signs. A hordeolum (stye) is an acute painful abscess of a Zeis or Moll gland (external) or meibomian gland (internal) with overlying skin tenderness. Sebaceous gland carcinoma should be suspected if a 'chalazion' recurs in the same location after drainage.
Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.