ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Polidocanol is a safe sclerosing agent with anesthetic properties and minimal skin toxicity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and recurrence rates with polidocanol sclerotherapy in the treatment of pyogenic granulomas (PGs). METHODS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with PG were injected with polidocanol 1% solution. Repeat injections were given weekly in case of incomplete clinical/dermoscopic resolution, until a maximum of 3 sittings. A higher strength (3%) was used for subsequent sessions in those with a minimal response to 1% solution. A final assessment for relapses was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: All 39 patients achieved complete resolution (100% clearance rate), with most (n = 26) lesions resolving after the first sitting. Side effects noted were postprocedure pain (22), erythema (2), superficial ulceration (2), paresthesias (1), prominent edema (4), thrombophlebitis (1), cyanotic discoloration (1), purpuric staining around injection site (4), and mild local pruritus (1). The procedure was well tolerated across the age spectrum (4-63 years) included. CONCLUSION: We report polidocanol to be a highly effective, safe, and cost-effective sclerosant for treatment of PGs with no recurrences or need for special postprocedure care.