Large anterior orbital cyst as a late complication of chalazion surgical drainage.

PURPOSE: To present four patients who developed large cystic lesions attached to the tarsal plate at the site of previously drained chalazion.

METHODS

Medical records for all patients who developed cystic lesion as a complication of chalazion surgery were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and radiological findings, treatment provided, histopathological findings, and complications.

RESULTS

Four patients (one male and three females) with a mean age of 22 years (range, 11-36 years) were enrolled in the study. A history of chalazion surgery was present in all patients at the same site of the cyst attachment to the tarsal plate. The mean interval between the presentation with the cystic lesion and the chalazion surgery was 13 weeks (range, 6-24 weeks). All patients were treated with surgical excision of the cysts, along with local triamcinolone injection. Histopathological findings of the excised cysts were consistent with chalazion. There was no evidence of recurrence or other complication observed during the follow-up visits (the minimum follow-up duration was 6 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior orbital cystic formation (prolapsed chalazion) may occur as a late complication of chalazion surgery. Surgical excision along with steroid injection was effective to manage this rare complication among our patients.