eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Dermatology

Pyogenic Granuloma: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Mark A Crowe, MD, Assistant Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Brett Steinberg, DO, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 13, 2009

Differential Diagnoses

Other Problems to Be Considered

Amelanotic malignant melanoma
Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia
Bacillary angiomatosis
Basal cell carcinoma
Benign lymphangioendothelioma
Eruptive epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with spindle cells
Facial pyogenic granuloma (PG)-like lesions associated with isotretinoin therapy
Glomeruloid hemangioma
Glomus tumor
Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia
Kaposi sarcoma
Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma
Metastatic carcinoma
Microvenular hemangioma
Spindle-cell hemangioendothelioma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma
Tufted hemangioma

Workup

Procedures

  • Obtain a biopsy of any lesion suspected of being a pyogenic granuloma (PG) to confirm the diagnosis.

Histologic Findings

  • Proliferation of capillaries is present, with prominent endothelial cells embedded in edematous gelatinous stroma in a characteristic lobular configuration.
  • The epidermis is commonly eroded.
  • A dense infiltrate and granulation tissue with polymorphonuclear leukocytes may be present.
  • Hyperproliferation of the epidermis is usually present at the margins of the vascular growth, which results in a collarette of epidermis.25,16,26

More on Pyogenic Granuloma

Overview: Pyogenic Granuloma
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Pyogenic Granuloma
Treatment & Medication: Pyogenic Granuloma
Follow-up: Pyogenic Granuloma
Multimedia: Pyogenic Granuloma
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

pyogenic granuloma, PG, granuloma gravidarum, granuloma telangiectaticum, lobular capillary hemangioma, pregnancy tumor, gingival lesion, exophytic circumscribed lesion, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, satellitosis, intravenous pyogenic granuloma, nevi, warts, port-wine stain, amelanotic melanoma, human papillomavirus, bacillary angiomatosis, polymorphonuclear leukocytes

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Mark A Crowe, MD, Assistant Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Mark A Crowe, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and North American Clinical Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Brett Steinberg, DO, Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Brett Steinberg, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Osteopathic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kevin P Connelly, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Care, Virginia Commonwealth University; Medical Director, Paws for Health Pet Visitation Program of the Richmond SPCA; Pediatric Emergency Physician, Emergency Consultants Inc, Chippenham Medical Center
Kevin P Connelly, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Merrily P M Poth, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Merrily P M Poth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, and Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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