Carbon dioxide laser-assisted management of pregnancy tumor: A case report

Abstract

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is an inflammatory hyperplasia of the tissues that occurs as a result of various stimuli such as low-grade local irritation, traumatic injury, or hormonal factors. The term used is a misnomer since it is unrelated to infection and does not contain pus. Clinically, oral PG develops as a solitary, granuloma-like, pedunculated, and easily bleeding tumor which mostly affects the gingiva followed by buccal mucosa, tongue, lips, and palate. It is also known as granuloma pyogenicum, granuloma gravidarum, telangiectatic granuloma, pregnancy tumor, vascular epulis, benign vascular tumor, and hemangiomatous granuloma. Females are affected more commonly mainly during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause probably due to the vascular effects of the hormones. The lesions are known as “pregnancy tumor” and tend to occur more frequently during the second and third trimesters. Commonly involved treatment protocols include conventional surgical excision, electrocautery, and lasers. The purpose of this article is to report the laser-assisted management of an unusual case of PG in a 22-year-old female patient in her 9th month of pregnancy.