Which is more associated with sterile inflammation?

Which is more associated with sterile inflammation?

• A. Chalazion
• B. Hordeolum
• C. Internal hordeolum
• D. External hordeolum

Answer: (A)

Sterile inflammation refers to an inflammatory reaction without an infectious agent driving it. A chalazion demonstrates this most clearly: it is a localized, noninfectious inflammatory lesion of the meibomian gland caused by ductal obstruction. The accumulated secretions trigger a lipogranulomatous response with macrophages and sometimes multinucleated giant cells, leading to a painless, chronic nodular swelling of the eyelid. In contrast, a hordeolum is an acute infectious process, usually due to Staphylococcus, that causes a painful, red, swollen lid margin with often purulent discharge. Internal and external hordeola differ by the gland involved (meibomian gland versus glands at the lid margin), but both are infectious and typically inflammatory with pus rather than a sterile granulomatous reaction. So, chalazion is the presentation associated with sterile inflammation.

Sterile inflammation refers to an inflammatory reaction without an infectious agent driving it. A chalazion demonstrates this most clearly: it is a localized, noninfectious inflammatory lesion of the meibomian gland caused by ductal obstruction. The accumulated secretions trigger a lipogranulomatous response with macrophages and sometimes multinucleated giant cells, leading to a painless, chronic nodular swelling of the eyelid.

In contrast, a hordeolum is an acute infectious process, usually due to Staphylococcus, that causes a painful, red, swollen lid margin with often purulent discharge. Internal and external hordeola differ by the gland involved (meibomian gland versus glands at the lid margin), but both are infectious and typically inflammatory with pus rather than a sterile granulomatous reaction.

So, chalazion is the presentation associated with sterile inflammation.