Pyogenic granuloma-like Spitz naevus in paediatric patients: a case series

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pediatric Pathology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Pyogenic granuloma is a benign vascular lesion with a broad differential diagnosis.
• Accurate diagnosis is essential, as management options vary significantly.
• Histopathological examination is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis and ruling out mimics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine pediatric cases of pyogenic granuloma-like Spitz nevus.
• To emphasize the importance of tissue sampling for diagnostic accuracy.
• To highlight the need for histopathological confirmation in suspected pyogenic granuloma cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective single-center study.
• Inclusion of pediatric patients with lesions clinically diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma.
• Histopathological evaluation to confirm Spitz nevus diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Out of 84 patients, 6 (7.1%) with suspected pyogenic granuloma were diagnosed with Spitz nevus.
• All Spitz nevus cases required re-excision due to involved surgical margins.
• No recurrences were observed after re-excision with clear margins during follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Clinical diagnosis alone carries a risk of misdiagnosis for pyogenic granuloma.
• A high rate of clinicopathological discrepancy necessitates histopathological confirmation.
• Surgical management with biopsy ensures diagnostic accuracy and optimal patient care.