Information From Your Health Care Provider

GRANULOMA, PYOGENIC

Basic information

description

Pyogenic granuloma is a fairly common type of skin growth. It is not contagious or cancerous. Pyogenic granuloma can involve skin anywhere on the body. It often affects the head, neck, upper trunk, and fingers. It can also affect the gums and other mucous membranes of the mouth. It occurs most often in children of both sexes (ages 5 to 15) and pregnant women.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Papule (small, raised bump on the skin). Usually, a single one is present, but in rare cases, there may be multiple papules.
It first appears as pinhead-sized, but it grows rapidly over a period of a few weeks to about a half inch in size.
The color is scarlet, brown, or blue-black.
Will bleed easily when injured.
They don't hurt or itch.
May ulcerate (become an open sore) and form a crust.

causes

Unknown. Pyogenic refers to an infectious process, but these lesions are misnamed. Because they often appear in late childhood or pregnancy, hormonal changes may be a factor in their development. It may also be an abnormal healing response to trauma as they frequently appear following an injury (which may be minor, such as a pinprick).

risk increases with

Pregnancy.
Recent injury (they may develop at the injured site).
Use of certain drugs (such as oral contraceptives, retinoids, or protease inhibitors).

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Cannot be prevented at present.
Because pyogenic granuloma resembles melanoma (skin cancer), medical diagnosis can be important.

expected outcomes

Some heal on their own (such as in pregnancy). Others can be successfully treated.

possible complications

Recurrence is common.

diagnosis & treatment

general measures

Your health care provider will diagnose the disorder by an exam of the affected skin area. Medical tests may include a skin biopsy (removal of a small amount of tissue for viewing under a microscope).
The growths can be treated using several different methods.
Often, they are scraped off with an instrument called a curette and then cauterized (using heat to heal tissue). This helps to decrease the chance that they will regrow.
Laser surgery can be used to destroy the growth.
In some cases, it may be treated with chemicals (such as silver nitrate).
The growth may be removed by surgical excision and closed with stitches.
If a drug is the cause of the pyogenic granuloma, stopping the drug may lead to healing.

medications

In some cases, topical drugs may be used for treatment.

activity

No limits, except to avoid injury to the area while it is healing.

diet

No special diet.

notify our office if

You or a family member has symptoms of pyogenic granuloma.
The wound bleeds after surgery, and applying pressure for 10 minutes cannot stop it.
The wound shows signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, or increased tenderness.