Background and objective

Keloids cause deterioration in the quality of life of patients due to cosmetic disfigurement, pain and pruritus. Although there is a wide range of therapeutic options and even a combination of these, there are still high recurrence rates that make keloids treatment a challenge.

We report our rate of recurrence of keloid in different body areas after surgery associated with radiotherapy electron beam in the immediate postoperative period using a defined radiotherapy protocol.

Methods

An ambispective study was carried out in the Plastic Surgery Unit at Salvador Hospital and Santa María Clinic in Santiago (Chile) between 2010 and 2017, colleting patients operated on by keloids with surgery and protocolized treatment of electron radiation therapy. Patients who did not attend the radiotherapy treatment, it was performed after 24 hours, or they were not followed up for at least 3 months, were excluded. We evaluated demographic, clinical data, past history of frustrated procedures, keloid number and keloid recurrence. Chi-square statistical test was used using statistical significance p≤0.05.

Results

A total of 15 patients with 32 keloids in different body areas were treated, with an average follow-up time of 862 days. All patients underwent surgical and radiotherapy treatment without inconveniences and good tolerance. The average total recurrence was 34%, with the greatest recurrence in the dorsal area (83%) and with no recurrences in the auricular one.

Conclusions

Excisional surgical treatment of keloids, followed by beam radiation therapy according to the protocol described, results in no recurrence in the auricular area.

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