Extralesional triamcinolone acetonide injection in the treatment of small chalazion

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of extralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection in the treatment of small chalazion (diameter ≤ 5 mm). METHODS: Prospective interventional clinal study that included patients diagnosed as chalazion of small size not responding to conservative management for at least 2 weeks. All patients were treated with extralesional TA injection (4 mg). Successful resolution of a chalazion was defined as a decrease in size to 1 mm or smaller. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. The resolution was achieved in 33 (87%) patients. Nineteen (50%) patients had complete resolution after the first injection, and 13 (34.2%) patients had complete resolution after the second injection. Chalazion near the lower punctum needed more times of injections than those elsewhere (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Extralesional TA injection is effective in the treatment of both primary and recurred small chalazia. It is a simple and cost-saving procedure and can be considered an alternative first-line treatment for small chalazion.