LOBULAR CAPILLARY HEMANGIOMA (PYOGENIC GRANULOMA) OF THE NOSE

Objective: To present a number of cases with lobular capillary haemang ioma (pyogenic granuloma) of the nose; and to discuss the clinical and histopathological diagnosis of this disorder. Methods: A clinicopatho logical study of patients diagnosed with nasal lobular capillary haema ngioma who were treated at King Abdel Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh from 1986 to 1995. Results: The study group consisted of 12 patients (four males and eight females ranging in age from 17 to 65 years; mean 30.1 years). Clinically, most patients presented with epistaxis and a rapidly growing unilateral haemorrhagic mass. Most lesions were locat ed on the septal mucosa. The clinical impression was misleading in som e cases. The histological diagnosis was based on the lobular arrangeme nt of capillaries. One case was initially misdiagnosed as angiofibroma . Excisional biopsy was the mainstay of treatment. One instance of rec urrence was recorded. Conclusion: This uncommon lesion should be consi dered in the differential diagnosis of a rapidly growing haemorrhagic lesion within the nasal fossa. Clinical and histological diagnostic pi tfalls occur frequently.