OBJECTIVE: Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common acquired hemorrhagic benign vascular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes. Recently, PG was considered a capillary hemangioma and was renamed as lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH). A clinical retrospective analysis of PG cases in our institute over a period of 10 years was performed. METHODS: The study involved 82 cases of pathologically diagnosed PG managed and treated at the Plastic Surgery Department of Tokai University between 1995 and 2004. Individual data from charts were reviewed for age, gender, affected site, size of lesion, predisposing factors, and treatment. All lesions were treated surgically using an excision followed by suture, or shave excision followed by CO2 laser ablation. RESULTS: The overall male to female ratio was 1.5:1. In 28% of the total cases, a preceding lesion was evident prior to the occurrence of PG. The head and neck area were the most commonly affected sites (56%), followed by the upper limb (22%), trunk (16%), and lower limbs (6%). CO2 laser ablation was performed successfully in 24% of patients and resulted in no recurrences. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we recommend surgical excision followed by CO2 laser ablation as the first-choice treatment for PGs.
OBJECTIVE:Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common acquired hemorrhagic benign vascular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes. Recently, PG was considered a capillary hemangioma and was renamed as lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH). A clinical retrospective analysis of PG cases in our institute over a period of 10 years was performed. METHODS: The study involved 82 cases of pathologically diagnosed PG managed and treated at the Plastic Surgery Department of Tokai University between 1995 and 2004. Individual data from charts were reviewed for age, gender, affected site, size of lesion, predisposing factors, and treatment. All lesions were treated surgically using an excision followed by suture, or shave excision followed by CO2 laser ablation. RESULTS: The overall male to female ratio was 1.5:1. In 28% of the total cases, a preceding lesion was evident prior to the occurrence of PG. The head and neck area were the most commonly affected sites (56%), followed by the upper limb (22%), trunk (16%), and lower limbs (6%). CO2 laser ablation was performed successfully in 24% of patients and resulted in no recurrences. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we recommend surgical excision followed by CO2 laser ablation as the first-choice treatment for PGs.