# Dermatoscopic features of pyogenic granuloma in children

## TL;DR

This study identifies key dermoscopic features of pyogenic granuloma in children to improve diagnosis without invasive procedures.

## Contribution

The study presents novel dermoscopic patterns specific to pediatric pyogenic granuloma cases.

## Key findings

- Reddish homogeneous area, white collarette, and yellow-white scales were common dermoscopic features in children with PG.
- Yellow-white scales, dark red scabs, and bleeding were more prevalent in children than in previous studies.
- Dermoscopy is a practical, non-invasive diagnostic tool for PG in pediatric patients.

## Abstract

The clinical appearances of Pyogenic granuloma (PG) in children are not as typical as in adults. Meanwhile, skin biopsy is hard to accept for parents in most of time. Therefore, data of PG in children has been deprived. To analyze the dermoscopic features of PG in children in order to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment and to reduce the probability of invasive examination. A single‐center retrospective study conducted from 1 January 2022 to 30 August 2022 summarized and analyzed the clinical data and dermoscopic features of patients clinically diagnosed with PG. A total of 36 patients were involved, 61.11% were males, 72.22% occurred in the face. Over 50% patients had the following dermoscopic patterns: reddish homogeneous area (100%), white collarette (91.7%), yellow‐white scales (69.4%), vascular structures (52.8%), and white rail lines (55.6%). Regression analysis found that gender and courses of disease had a statistically significant impact on part of the dermoscopic patterns. The proportions of dermoscopic features with yellow‐white scales (69.4%), dark red scabs (27.8%), and bleeding (27.8%) in this study were higher than in previous studies (26.7%, 10%, and 10%, respectively). Dermoscope is a practical diagnostic tool for PG in children. It is necessary to consider gender, disease course and lesion locations when PG is diagnosed using dermoscope. The characteristics of yellow‐white scales, dark red scabs, and bleeding are the microscopic features that distinguish pediatric patients with PG from adult patients, which should be given special attention to in pediatric patients.

Some dermoscopic patterns could help clinicians to diagnose pyogenic granuloma in pediatric patients more efficiently and more accurately. We found that the composed dermoscopic pattern of reddish homogeneous area, white rail lines, and white collarette sign have the highest sensitivity to the diagnosis of pyogenic granuloma and specificity.