Comparison of the Efficacy of Combined Silver Nitrate Coagulation and Shave Excision With Surgical Excision and Linear Closure in the Treatment of Pyogenic Granuloma.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common benign vascular neoplasia. Optimal treatment should have an aesthetically pleasant scar and a low recurrence rate. No treatment method that is fully effective in solving these has been demonstrated. Silver nitrate cauterization is another method for the management of PG lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of silver nitrate on the treatment of PG have not been sufficiently investigated and should be investigated with objective data and a controlled study.

METHODS: The prospective clinical trial was designed to compare silver nitrate cauterization with surgical excision treatment. Procedure times and procedure costs, comfort and satisfaction scales, recurrences, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Score, and the Vancouver Scar Scale were compared to evaluate treatments.

RESULTS: Silver nitrate treatment had lower procedure times, costs, and better satisfaction and comfort scale scores. The scar assessment scores were better for the silver nitrate treatment. The patients in both groups were successfully treated and no recurrence was seen.

CONCLUSION: Silver nitrate cauterization is low-cost, fast, safe, reliable, and effective with good aesthetic results for the treatment of PG lesions. This study shows that silver nitrate cauterization is a good alternative to surgical excision in the management of PG.