Pyogenic Granuloma

Pyogenic granulomas are common skin and mucosal growths that are small and usually reddish in color. They tend to bleed because they contain a very large number of blood vessels. They’re also known as lobular capillary hemangiomas.

These growths mainly affect children and young adults, although they can develop in people of all ages. They are also fairly common in pregnant women—the hormone changes that occur during pregnancy can cause these growths to develop.

The aetiology is not fully understood: rapid growth occurs in response to an unknown stimulus that triggers endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis.

• Trauma and burns can provoke the sequence but frequently there is no identifiable cause.
• Other suggested causes include viral oncogenes, hormonal influences (pregnancy, oral contraceptive pill) and cytogenetic abnormalities.
• They have also been associated with certain medications.

Tips
Consult your doctor if you notice any rapid growth of skin or mucous membranes to the diagnosis. They are prone to easy bleeding, so that the dressing may need to treat the lesion.

Treatment

These lesions bleed easily so often tre
atment is urgently needed to control the hemorrhage. Treatment entails surgical excision under local anesthesia, cryotherapy, electrocautery or laser.