Pyogenic
Granuloma.

Rapidly growing red nodule that often bleeds.

What is Pyogenic Granuloma?

Pyogenic Granuloma is a common benign tumour of the blood vessels (a Vascular Tumour). Although the name would suggest that the growth is a pus-forming (pyogenic) inflammatory lesion (granuloma), it is actually neither of these – but the name has stuck.

Who gets them?

Pyogenic granuloma is common in children and younger adults but can occur at any age.

Pyogenic Granuloma also occurs in around 2% of pregnant women, often in the middle of the pregnancy.

What are the clinical features?

Pyogenic Granuloma grow rapidly over weeks. The raised lesion is is round to oval nodule, and usually around 5-10 mm in size. The Vascular nature of the tumour makes it shiny and red in colour and could be described as looking like a raspberry. The lesion will feel quite soft, and bleeds easily. They can also ulcerate causing a crust over the lesion or around base of the lesion.

In pregnancy, this growth is often found on the lips or gums and is called oral mucosal pyogenic granuloma.

The most important alternative diagnoses are amelanotic melanoma, Spitz nevus, nodular BCC and SCC. Of these alternatives, amelanotic melanoma is the big one not to miss.

Gallery of Pyogenic Granuloma

Please click on the images for details.

What is the significance?

Why does Pyogenic Granuloma matter?

Imagine a bright red rapidly growing nodule and you get the picture. Pyogenic Granuloma can’t be overlooked.

However, the alarming appearance belies its harmless nature – other than bleeding with minimal trauma.

Nodular melanoma may rarely mimic a pyogenic granuloma.

Pyogenic Granuloma does not go away without treatment.

Treatment for Pyogenic Granuloma

What is the treatment of Pyogenic Granuloma?

The lesion can be removed using a process called Curettage which is done under a local anaesthetic. If Pyogenic Granuloma re-occurs after excision and, it can be treated with a further surgery or Cryotherapy.

In some cases where surgery is not require, Imiquimod cream could be used on the Pyogenic Granuloma. There were positives results for this cream shown in a study where it was used to treat Pyogenic Granuloma on the face in young children.