Pyogenic granuloma (pregnancy tumor) of the nasal cavity - A case report

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic granuloma is a benign lesion of unknown etiology that occurs in the skin and mucous membranes. It has been reported as a common l esion of the oral cavity and, less commonly, the nasal cavity. Although its etiology is unclear, pyogenic granuloma has long been associated with preg nancy, oral contraceptives and trauma. The term pregnancy tumor has been us ed to reflect the association with pregnancy; nevertheless, pyogenic granul oma is often misdiagnosed in obstetric patients. CASE: We present the case of a 37-year-old, pregnant woman with an enlargin g nasal mass ultimately diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma. The patient was tr eated successfully with endoscopic excision of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Pyogenic granuloma is a rapidly growing lesion that should be c onsidered in the differential diagnosis of any gravid patient with a mass i n the oral or nasal cavity. The lesion may result in complications of the p regnancy, and management should be individualized for each patient.