Pyogenic Granuloma of the Dorsum of the Tongue in a Child: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Abstract

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a reactive lesion that most commonly affects the gingiva but may also occur at less frequent intraoral sites, complicating clinical diagnosis, particularly in pediatric patients. This paper reports a case of lingual PG in a seven-year-old girl and provides a descriptive review of published pediatric cases. The lesion developed following a reported episode of local trauma to the tongue, although the specific nature of the trauma was unknown, and presented as a painless, ulcerated nodular growth on the left anterior dorsum of the tongue. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. Complete healing was observed, with no recurrence after 3 months of follow-up. A descriptive literature review was conducted through a structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for published cases of oral PG in children aged 0-12 years. Thirty-six cases met the eligibility criteria. Most lesions involved the gingiva, while extragingival sites included the tongue, lips, and palate. Conventional surgical excision was the most frequently reported initial treatment. This case and the literature review highlight that PG may occur at atypical intraoral sites in children and requires careful clinical evaluation and histopathological confirmation.