Pyogenic granuloma is a frequently diagnosed, benign vascular lesion common in children and young adults. Treatment of
pyogenic granuloma consists of removal of the lesion for therapeutic as well as diagnostic purposes. Current treatment modalities include
curettage with electrodesiccation,
cryosurgery, chemical
cauterization, and
argon laser therapy. However, these methods are not without the risk of complications such as
scarring and pigmentary changes. The recently reported success of the flashlamp-pumped
pulsed dye laser for treating
telangiectasias,
hemangiomas, and
port-wine stains led us to hypothesize that this same device, using different variables, such as multiple overlapping pulses, would be of benefit in the treatment of
pyogenic granuloma. We describe three patients with
pyogenic granuloma treated with the
pulsed dye laser, with the total number of treatments and energy densities varying according to the size of the initial lesion. All three patients demonstrated complete resolution of lesions with no evidence of
scarring,
atrophy, or pigment changes. This preliminary report suggests that
pulsed laser therapy should be considered in the treatment of
pyogenic granuloma, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas.