Infantile multiple large pyogenic granuloma on burned skin. Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign vascular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes, presenting as a solitary, red, pedunculated papule that bleeds easily and which appears to be a reactive vascular proliferation to minor injury. These lesions are more common in children and are mostly seen in exposed sites. Multiple disseminated PG is a rare condition. This report describes an infant with multiple, disseminated, pyogenic granulomas following burns from boiling milk. We reviewed literature published in English and found 9 cases. Six cases were provoked by hot milk, 2 by hot water, while the cause of the other case is unknown. Angiogiogenetic activity in milk may explain PG development in these patients.

INTRODUTION

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common, benign, acquired vascular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes. It generally appears as a solitary, red nodule on the face, trunk and limbs, mostly among the pediatric age group. Although the underlying cause is not well-understood, minor trauma, chronic irritation, hormonal factors, viral infections and drugs are considered etiologic factors. It is known as a reactive vascular proliferation, rather than a true neoplasia.^1-2 Few case reports of multiple disseminated PG in the published literature describe post-generalized traumas such as scald burns. ^1-6

CASE REPORT

A 12-month-old infant boy was referred by the Ghotb-e-din burn unit to our department, following sudden development of multiple, red, papules and nodules on the periphery of healing second-degree burn sites on the bilateral lower limbs. The patient was playing near an oven when he was burned by boiling milk. He was admitted to a burn care center and received intravenous antibiotics, undergoing daily dressing with silver sulfadiazine. Two weeks later, when the burn lesions were healing, multiple eruptive, red lesions were noted on the periphery of burn sites on both legs (Figures 1-2). These new lesions bled easily with minor trauma. The patient was observed for another 2 weeks and treated using dressing with silver sulfadiazine, to no avail. Furthermore, the physical examination revealed multiple, erythematous, pedunculated papules and nodules on the knees and shins. They varied in size the largest measuring 2.5×2.5cm.

Figure 1.

Multiple erythematous pedunculated nodules around burn scar on knee

Figure 2.

Numerous red papules on burn scar on shins

A biopsy showed an intact epidermis with underlying proliferation of capillary-sized blood vessels in a edematous stroma. The histologic picture of this superficial biopsy may be consistent with the clinical diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma (Figures 3-4).

Figure 3.

Histopathologic image of lesion

Figure 4.

Histopathologic image of lesion

Unfortunately, the patient was lost to follow-up.

DISCUSSION

PG, also known as lobular capillary hemangioma, was first described in 1987 by Poncent and Dore. The pathogenesis remains unclear and many factors including trauma, infection, increased level of female sex hormones (pregnancy), viral oncogenes, microscopic arteriovenous anastomoses and growth factors, may play a role.³

Differential diagnosis includes multiple benign and malignant conditions such as amelanotic melanoma, angiosarcoma, basal cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma, hemangioma, bacillary angiomatosis, metastatic visceral malignancies and granulation tissue. ⁴

There are several methods for treating PG but recurrence is a major problem for patients. Options include: excision, electrocautery, CO₂ laser and pulsed dye laser therapy. ¹

In the English-language literature, there were 9 rare cases of multiple, disseminated, eruptive PG occurring following scald burns. Six cases were provoked by hot milk, 2 hot water, while the cause of the other case is unknown (Chart).^1-6

Chart 1.

Demographic data of reported post burn multiple eruptive pyogenic granulomas in the English literature

Degree of burn	Site of burn	Causing agent	sex	Age (year)
Second	trunk	milk	female	5	Momeni et al, 1995
Second	trunk	milk	male	18
Second	trunk	milk	female	35
Second	Arm	water	male	1.5	Ceyhan et al, 2007
Second	Face, neck	unknown	female	2	Durgun et al, 2013
Second	Arm	water	Male	7
Second	Forearm	milk	male	2	Bozkurt et al, 2006
Second	Arm	milk	female	18	Ceyhan et al, 1997
Second	Arm	unknown	female	5	Aliagaoglu et al, 2006

The time trend in the aforementioned cases was similar to that of our case: patients developed lesions within 2 weeks of suffering burns, all of which were second-degree. It appears to be no coincidence that most patients endured burns from milk, as the three others patients scalded by other hot liquids did not develop PG. Milk contains mainly water, protein, lipid, carbohydrate (lactose) and minerals. Although the exact mechanism remains to be understood, angiogiogenetic activity in milk may explain PG development in these patients.^7,8

Importantly, all the reported cases are from Iran and Turkey, possibly due to the habit of boiling raw milk at home on stoves and not using pasteurized milk in urban areas.