Can Chalazia Occur on the Brow Bone?
No, chalazia do not occur on the brow bone—they develop exclusively within the eyelid tissue where meibomian glands are located.
Anatomic Location of Chalazia
Chalazia form specifically within the tarsal plate of the eyelid, which contains the meibomian glands that become obstructed and inflamed 1, 2.
They can develop on either the upper or lower eyelid, presenting as a painless nodule within the tarsal plate that becomes visible when the eyelid is everted 2.
The brow bone (supraorbital ridge) contains no meibomian glands and therefore cannot develop chalazia 2.
What Might Be Confused with Chalazia Near the Brow
If you're seeing a lesion near the brow bone, consider these alternative diagnoses:
- Sebaceous cysts or epidermoid cysts of the periorbital skin
- Dermoid cysts, particularly at the lateral brow
- Lipomas or other soft tissue masses
- Inflammatory lesions related to folliculitis or other skin conditions
Critical Diagnostic Pitfall
If a lesion appears in an atypical location (such as near the brow bone) and is being labeled as a "recurrent chalazion," this should raise immediate suspicion for malignancy, particularly sebaceous carcinoma in older patients 1, 3.
Sebaceous carcinoma can masquerade as recurrent chalazia and is the most critical diagnosis to exclude in cases of unilateral, recurrent, or atypical eyelid lesions 4, 1.
Biopsy is mandatory for any "chalazion" that recurs in the same location, shows marked asymmetry, or demonstrates atypical features such as eyelid margin distortion, lash loss (madarosis), or ulceration 1, 2, 3.
When to Refer for Specialist Evaluation
Any periorbital mass that does not fit the classic presentation of a chalazion (painless nodule within the eyelid tarsal plate) requires ophthalmology or oculoplastic evaluation 2.
Lesions on or near the brow bone are not chalazia and warrant appropriate workup for other etiologies.