HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Pea Sized Painless Bump Above Eyebrow?

default
Posted on Wed, 4 Mar 2015
Question: I have a pea sized painless bump that feels like it's on the skull above my eyebrow towards the temple. It has been there for 2 years and has not changed to my knowledge. The skin moves freely over it and may have formed after I was hit in that area with the corner of my cell phone. What could this be?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Organized hematoma / Epidermoid cyst.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.

You have given a very peculiar history of a small pea-sized bump that feels like it is on the skull above the eyebrow towards the temple - 2 years without change - skin moves freely over it - history of hit by cell phone -
Possibilities are :
-Organized hematoma (Blood collection after a hit usually gets fully re-absorbed by the body, but a small part can get into fibrosis into the hematoma or calcium gets deposited to give this picture)

-Epidermoid cyst (a very small part of the skin gets undermined and appears as a cyst)

This is a benign condition and you have an option to keep it under observation after an actual physical examination by a Doctor / Surgeon or get this removed and get histo-pathology done.

I hope this answer helps you.
Please feel free to ask for more, if you need to or if you feel there is a gap-of-communication.

Dr T Chandrakant.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (11 minutes later)
Thank you! So I should not be worried? The only reason I am asking about it now is curiosity. It feels hard like bone and while feeling it is painless. I'm a worry wort and I was thinking some kind of cancerous tumor or something Horrible. I was just looking at pictures of me from 2 years ago and you can see it, to me it looks the exact same way, having not grown at all or at the most extremely little. When I move my skin to the side it stays in place and is round, small and hard. if I had any other symptoms I would go to my doctor but not if you think it's harmless.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Benign (harmlesss) lesion- not cancerous

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation and proper further history and your thinking.

Your description fits well in the already explained possible diagnosis and you need not really worry about this as per the history you have provided.

may times the reason to get this removed is aesthetic (just to look good), if this is on your mind. If not you can carry on observation and consult your Doctor if there are any of the following symptoms:
Increase in size / pain / redness or any symptom related to this particular lump.

Yes, this is harmless. Getting actual checking once by a Doctor would make you 100 per cent sure, if you wish to, although you have given a very good history and description.

Thanks for great feedback.

Dr T Chandrakant
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (14 minutes later)
Thank you for the fast reply. My last question is could it be an osteoma or not likely. Of course when you Google "hard bump on skull" you get scary answers. I'm not positive it appeared after the cell phone hit but very Close to that time. Could a cyst be attached to the bone and not to the skin? My eyebrow almost covers it but it shows just to the top and right of it. I would say along the bone of my eyebrow. Your quick response has been great!
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
less likely to be osteoma - history of trauma - rare cysts attached to bone

Detailed Answer:
Yes, ''Google'' really gives very scary hair raising answers sometimes.
The history of trauma, no symptoms for 2 years and no change in size or symptoms makes this benign and supports the diagnosis.

Osteoma- This is not the preferred site for osteoma. This again is a benign problem and practically needs no treatment unless causes any of the problems.
Osteoma can be diagnosed only on a properly angled X-ray or a CT scan is done to confirm.

Dermoid cyst is very difficult to move on the skull bone, it appears as if it is part of the bone. So this is again a bit fallacious when we examine or operate such bumps. Congenital dermoid cyst appear to be fixed to the bone as there are certain cysts in the naso-labial (lip) area that are fixed and can actually get attached to the bone over a period of time so that we have to drill the bone to get rid of the fragments which can cause recurrence.
Well, detailed discussion can make you scary, which I would not like you to.

Most of the cysts are attached to the under-surface of the skin like sebaceous cysts. But there are always exceptions to the rules.

Thanks for your appreciation, you may please rate the answer before closing thread and feel free to ask for more if you need to or if you feel there is a gap-of-communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (9 minutes later)
Thank you! Just so I'm being clear, this lump will not move at all, I've tried pushing it. That's why I thought it is attached or grew on the bone, it's as hard as my skull is. Same diagnosis? Still no worry? If I push hard I feel preasure, but I guess that would be normal since I am applying preasure to it. Any final thoughts would be great! Thank you. I hope I am being clear enough, thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Benign

Detailed Answer:
Thanks you for very clear thoughts and proper examination you have done and explained.
From the last description of yours this looks to be an organized hematoma.
The hematoma which develops and gets organized under the pericranium (the bone covering of the skull bone) has this peculiarity which you have nicely noted.

Since I have not really examined the bump, it will be difficult to give you the final diagnosis and after a CT scan or a X-ray at least. But as per the great description you have given the possibilities have been mentioned as above.

Rest of the things as explained in previous answers.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19779 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Pea Sized Painless Bump Above Eyebrow?

Brief Answer: Organized hematoma / Epidermoid cyst. Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query and an elucidate history. You have given a very peculiar history of a small pea-sized bump that feels like it is on the skull above the eyebrow towards the temple - 2 years without change - skin moves freely over it - history of hit by cell phone - Possibilities are : -Organized hematoma (Blood collection after a hit usually gets fully re-absorbed by the body, but a small part can get into fibrosis into the hematoma or calcium gets deposited to give this picture) -Epidermoid cyst (a very small part of the skin gets undermined and appears as a cyst) This is a benign condition and you have an option to keep it under observation after an actual physical examination by a Doctor / Surgeon or get this removed and get histo-pathology done. I hope this answer helps you. Please feel free to ask for more, if you need to or if you feel there is a gap-of-communication. Dr T Chandrakant.