Although frequently observed in young adults, especially females during pregnancy, its occurrence in prepubertal children is rare and diagnostically challenging.
This recent case report published in Cureus details the clinical presentation, suspected etiologic factors, differential diagnosis, and surgical management of a gingival pyogenic granuloma in a 9-year-old girl.
The lesion, initially misinterpreted by the patient as trauma-related, exhibited typical exophytic characteristics without underlying bone involvement
The authors highlight two major contributing factors: repeated gingival trauma due to a habitual picking behavior and early hormonal influence, possibly linked to prepubertal endocrine activity.
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The surgical approach involved conservative excision under local anesthesia, followed by histopathological confirmation of lobular capillary hemangioma.
This case underscores the importance of considering behavioral and hormonal variables even in pediatric patients, as well as the necessity of histological analysis to rule out other reactive or neoplastic lesions such as peripheral ossifying fibroma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, and fibrous hyperplasia.
With its thorough discussion on diagnostic strategy and recurrence prevention, the report provides valuable insights for clinicians managing atypical oral soft tissue lesions in pediatric populations.
👉 We invite dental professionals and oral surgeons worldwide to read the Full case report in PDF format via the Cureus journal platform.
