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Home :: Pyogenic Granuloma
Pyogenic Granuloma
Pyogenic granuloma is a rapidly developing hemangioma, at times arising at sites of minor trauma, characterized as a solitary eroded vascular nodule that bleeds spontaneously or after minor trauma.
Causes of Pyogenic Granuloma
The cause of pyogenic granuloma is unknown. It often seems to follows a minor injury and grows rapidly over a period of a few weeks to an average size of a half an inch. The head, neck, upper trunk and hands and feet are the most commonly sites.
Pyogenic granulomas are always benign growths. Still there is always a concern that they could be cancerous, and rarely a cancer can mimic pyogenic granuloma.
Symptoms of Pyogenic Granuloma
Lesions usually first appear as a small pinhead-sized red, brownish-red or blue-black spot that grows rapidly over a period of a few days to weeks to anywhere between 2mm and 2cm in diameter. Occasionally they may reach up to 5cm. They bleed easily and may ulcerate and form crusted sores. Usually a single lesion is present but in rare cases groups of multiple lesions may develop.
Diagnosis
Clinical findings confirmed by histologic findings. The need for histologic confirmation cannot be emphasized enough, especially to rule out amelanotic melanoma.
Treatment
In that pyogenic granuloma cannot be distinguished from primary or secondary (metastatic) carcinoma or amelanotic melanoma, the lesion should be sent for histologic examination.
Surgical Excision The lesion can be excised surgically after removal of the major portion of the lesion by curettage, parallel-plane with a scalpel, or scissors excision (for histopathologic examination), the base of the lesion can be destroyed by electrodesiccation or (pulse-dye) laser surgery. Cosmetic results are excellent. In children, an eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) should always be used.
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