Treatment of pyogenic granuloma in children with a 595 nm pulsed dye laser: A retrospective study of 212 patients

Background Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common vascular neoplasm in children. Data on 595 nm pulsed dye lasers for the treatment of PG in children remain scarce. Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the 595 nm pulsed dye laser for the treatment of PG in children. Study Design Retrospective case series. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 212 patients treated for PG with a 595 nm pulsed dye laser. SPSS version 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Among all 212 patients treated, 208 showed complete resolution of the lesion, and 4 dropped out after one treatment due to bleeding. A single treatment was sufficient in 139 (66.8%) patients, while two or three treatments were sufficient in 69 (33.2%) patients. Male patients responded better than female patients (chi(2) = 7.603, p =0.006). Lesions in the nonorbital region responded better than those in the orbital region (chi(2) = 7.445, p =0.006). The size of the lesion affected the effectiveness, and lesions with smaller diameters (t = -5.776, p <0.01) and heights (t = -10.368, p <0.01) showed better results. Complications and Side Effects Twelve patients (5.8%) were reported to have local complications and side effects, including edematous erythema, slight bleeding, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation. The edematous erythema and slight bleeding disappeared gradually after several days. The localized pigment changes usually resolved spontaneously and disappeared completely after 6 months. Conclusions Our experience confirmed the efficacy and safety of the 595 nm pulsed dye laser for the treatment of PG in children.