There are a few important vascular tumor and related lesions that can occur in the conjunctiva, including pyogenic granuloma, lymphangioma, varix, capillary hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma, and Kaposi sarcoma (KS). In the authors’ clinical series of 1,643 conjunctival tumors, there were 63 vascular lesions, accounting for 4% of the 1,643 lesions (4).

Pyogenic granuloma is a common and well-known condition (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19). In the authors’ series of 1,643 conjunctival tumors, the 11 pyogenic granulomas accounted for 18% of 63 conjunctival vascular lesions and for less than 1% of the 1,643 lesions (5).

The classification and terminology of pyogenic granuloma has been the source of considerable confusion. Some pathologists prefer to classify it as exuberant granulation tissue of “pyogenic granuloma type,” which is the term employed by our pathologists (Ralph C. Eagle, Jr, MD, personal communication, November 23, 2005). Others prefer the term “acquired capillary hemangioma, pyogenic granuloma type.” Some dermatologists have called a similar lesion an “acquired lobular capillary hemangioma” (16,17), which does not easily apply to the lesions seen in the conjunctiva. Until a more accurate name is agreed upon, we have chosen to continue to use the conventional term “pyogenic granuloma,” even though it is a misnomer. In actuality, it is a proliferative fibrovascular response (granulation tissue) to prior tissue insult by inflammation, surgery, or nonsurgical trauma (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17). It is most commonly seen at a traumatic wound site or near a suture line after surgery for chalazion, pterygium, strabismus, or enucleation (7). It has been recognized at the site of a dermis fat graft used after enucleation (9). It can also occur as a primary response to a chalazion, even if there is no history of prior surgery. It has been recognized in patients who wear contact lenses, presumably from chronic inflammation or from retention of a “lost” lens (8). Rarely, it appears to be entirely primary, without any underlying cause or event.

Pyogenic granuloma is usually confined to the conjunctiva, but it has also occurred on the cornea (10,11). A report of 14 corneal pyogenic granulomas showed that there was usually an underlying cause and a precipitating event. Predisposing conditions included indolent corneal ulceration, dry eye syndrome, trachoma, trichiasis, alkali burn, multiple topical drug use, previous orbital irradiation, and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. The precipitating event was usually a persistent epithelial defect secondary to those predisposing conditions (10). It has also occurred at the surgical site after corneal transplantation (11).

Clinically, pyogenic granuloma generally has a rapid onset and progression usually follows an apparent insult. It can assume any of several clinical variations. It is usually an elevated fleshy red-pink mass that often has a florid blood supply from the adjacent conjunctiva. The shape of the lesion can vary considerably from case to case, ranging from round to ovoid, broad based, and even mushroom shaped. Elevation of the margin of a pyogenic granuloma with a cotton-tipped applicator often reveals that the lesion is pedunculated, with an underlying stalk of blood vessels and connective tissue.

Microscopically, pyogenic granuloma is composed of granulation tissue with lymphocytes, plasma cells, scattered neutrophils, and numerous small-caliber blood vessels. As mentioned, it is often pointed out that the term “pyogenic granuloma” is a misnomer; the lesion is neither pyogenic nor granulomatous.

Pyogenic granuloma sometimes responds to topical cortico-steroids, but many cases ultimately require surgical excision. We have found that shaving excision at the small base, followed by cautery and cryotherapy, is usually effective, but recurrence is not uncommon. In the rare case of recurrence and continued growth, low-dose brachytherapy with a radioactive plaque has been effective (12).

In some cases, pyogenic granuloma can appear in the conjunctiva as a spontaneous lesion, without an evident cause. Some may be related to ruptured chalazion of which the patient was unaware; others may develop secondary to subclinical trauma or other insults.

Ferry AP. Pyogenic granulomas of the eye and ocular adnexa: a study of 100 cases. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 1989;87:327-347.

In many instances, pyogenic granuloma is due to an apparent underlying cause, such as prior ocular surgery, trauma, or ruptured chalazion. Surgical procedures that can be associated with the development of pyogenic granuloma include procedures for strabismus, pterygium, retinal detachment, and procedures like corneal transplant, and enucleation. In some instances, pyogenic granuloma can involve the cornea.

DePotter P, Tardio DJ, Shields CL, et al. Pyogenic granuloma of the cornea after penetrating keratoplasty. Cornea 1992;11:589-591.

In some instances, the lymphatic channels in the conjunctiva are dilated and prominent, a condition called “lymphangiectasia.” When the vascular lesion forms a distinct mass, it is called a “lymphangioma” (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13). Although it is usually a unilateral, sporadic occurrence, it has been recognized as part of Turner’s syndrome and Nonne-Milroy-Miege disease (1). In the authors’ clinical series of 1,643 conjunctival tumors, there were 15 lymphangiomas, accounting for 24% of conjunctival vascular lesions and for less than 1% of the 1,643 lesions (6).

When there is bleeding into the lymph channels, it is called “hemorrhagic lymphangiectasia” (2). When lymphangiectasia assumes tumorous proportions, it is called “lymphangioma.” Conjunctival lymphangioma can occur as either a solitary conjunctival lesion or as multifocal conjunctival lesions. In most instances, the conjunctival lymphangioma represents a superficial component of a deeper diffuse orbital lymphangioma (8). The lymph channels in a lymphangioma may contain clear fluid (lymph), in which case it appears as a multiloculated, cystlike lesion. In such instances, a large cystic compound nevus of the conjunctiva may be clinically similar to lymphangioma (11). Usually, when it becomes clinically apparent in the first decade of life it has undergone bleeding into the cystoid spaces and appears as a multiloculated blue-red mass containing variable-sized, clear, dilated vascular channels (3,4,5,6). When this blood is present in many of the cystic spaces, the lesion has been called a “chocolate cyst” (3). At that stage, the lesion may resemble a cavernous hemangioma.