Pyogenic granuloma–treatment by shave-excision and/or pulsed-dye laser

SummaryWe present the results of our evolving treatment strategy for pyogenic granuloma (PG) affecting cosmetically sensitive areas, from 1996 to 2007. Fifty-one lesions in 49 patients aged six weeks to 87 years (mean, 23.5 years) affecting the head and neck skin (39%) and lip vermillion (14%), limbs (31%) and trunk (16%) were treated. Fifteen lesions (29%) had failed previous treatments elsewhere. Forty-two lesions (in 40 patients) underwent pulsed-dye laser (PDL) therapy alone, using fluences of 5.3–9.4 J/cm2 (Photogenica V) or 15 J/cm2 (V-Beam) without dynamic cooling, at 7 mm spot-size. An average of 1.8 (range, 1–5) treatment sessions were required for lesions <5 mm, while an average of 2.7 (range 1–6) sessions were needed for lesions 5–10 mm in size. Five patients (with five lesions) measuring 4–6 mm elected for surgical excision following 1–3 (mean, 1.7) PDL treatments. Since 2001, nine PG (in nine patients) measuring 5–20 (mean, 11) mm underwent shave-excision and immediate PDL and repeat PDL as necessary. One patient elected for surgical excision following two PDL sessions. The remaining eight patients required an average of 1.1 (range, 0–5) additional PDL sessions for eradication of their PG. PDL alone for PG <5 mm, and shave-excision and immediate PDL to the base for larger lesions are effective treatments for lesions affecting cosmetically sensitive areas.