PYOGENIC GRANULOMA OF THE CORNEA - REPORT OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THELITERATURE

Background: Pyogenic granulomas are ulcerated vascular proliferations, often accompanied by inflammatory infiltrates, which rarely affect th e eye. Only few reports on pyogenic granulomas of the cornea have been presented. Methods: The enucleated globe containing the corneal tumor was examined histopathologically, and special immunohistochemical sta ins were performed. Results: The lesion had a yellowish appearance wit h marked vascularization. The inflammatory infiltrate was mainly compo sed of mononuclear cells, with no multinucleated giant cells, and was located anterior to Bowman's layer, leaving the corneal stroma unaffec ted. Immunohistochemical studies outlined the high vascular content, e ven in dense cellular areas, and confirmed the inflammatory nature of the mononuclear infiltrates. Conclusions: Pyogenic granuloma of the co rnea represents a clinical and morphological entity developing in a tr aumatized eye with corneal vascularization. Although the origin of the se lesions remains obscure, there have been no signs of malignancy. Th erefore, enucleation of an eye with a pyogenic granuloma should be avo ided.